March 26, 2009
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The 53rd-ranked Penn State men's tennis team (8-7, 1-1) will host the 28th-ranked Minnesota Golden Gophers and the 52nd-ranked Iowa Hawkeyes in a pair of key Big Ten matches this weekend. All match play will take place outdoors at the Sarni Tennis Center, weather permitting. With a pair of victories this weekend, it will be Penn State's best Big Ten start since 2007 when it started the season 5-1.
The action will kick-off Friday at 3 p.m., when the Lions take on the Gophers. This will be a "Code Blue" match. The first 75 students in attendance will receive a Code Blue t-shirt. Additionally, a Gatorade Prize Pack and a new Prince Tennis racket will be given away.
Last weekend, the Nittany Lions made a trip to Montgomery, Ala. for the Blue-Gray Tennis Classic, which featured some of the nation's elite teams. In its first matchup vs. No. 4 Tennessee, Penn State fell to a very tough Volunteers squad, 4-0. With the loss, the Nittany Lions turned to the consolation bracket, where they faced No. 52 Virginia Commonwealth. The Lions kicked off the match with a quick 1-0 lead, after winning doubles matches in the No. 1 and 3 bouts over the Rams. After splitting two of the first four singles matches, Penn State led 3-2. With seniors Adam Slagter (Austin, Texas) and Brendan Lynch (North Potomac, Md.) both battling in three set matches, Slagter stepped up and clinched the match for the Lions as he defeated Martin Schulhauser, 6-4, 6-7 (4), 6-4. The Lions fell in a setback to No. 43 Fresno State the following day, 4-0.
The Gophers head to Happy Valley with an impressive record of 13-3 overall with a 2-0 start in the Big Ten. Leading the way for Minnesota is Ishay Hadash. So far this season, Hadash carries an 11-5 record overall in the No. 1 position. Hadash holds a rank of 62nd in the ITA Singles Rankings. Hadash additionally holds a 10-5 record with Phillip Arndt in doubles competition. Sebastian Gallego holds a 10-4 record in singles action as well. Minnesota's biggest win of the season came on Feb. 21 as the Gophers upset No. 21 Wake Forest.
In 20 matchups, Penn State is 6-14 all-time against Minnesota. Last season, the Nittany Lions hosted the Gophers at the Penn State Indoor Tennis Center. The Lions pounded Minnesota, 6-1. Minnesota's last victory over Penn State came on April 14, 2006, when the then 35th-ranked Gophers downed the Nittany Lions, 5-2.
The Hawkeyes enter this weekend with a 10-2 record overall and a 2-0 record in the Big Ten. Leading the way for Iowa is Christian Bierich, who is 7-5 in the No. 1 position so far this season. Reinoud Haal and Tommy McGeorge each hold 10-2 records in singles dual matches. McGeorge and Will Vasos hold an impressive 12-0 record in doubles competition this season.
In 20 matchups, the Nittany Lions hold a 10-10 record against the Hawkeyes. Last season, Penn State came out on top at home against Iowa, 6-1. Iowa's last victory over Penn State came on April 16, 2006, when the Hawkeyes downed the Lions, 5-2.
Following the matchups with Minnesota and Iowa, the Nittany Lions will head to the state of Michigan next weekend. Penn State will take on the Michigan Wolverines on April 4 followed by a matchup with the Michigan State Spartans on April 5.