April 5, 2009
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Following a difficult 6-1 loss to Michigan on Saturday, the Penn State men's tennis team was back in action on Sunday and captured a 5-2 victory over the Michigan State Spartans. Penn State improves to 10-9 overall and 3-3 in the Big Ten.
After losing in the first completed doubles match, the Nittany Lions won the final two to clinch the doubles point. From there, Penn State won four of six singles matches to get the 5-2 victory.
In doubles action, junior Ryan Gormley (Las Vegas, Nev.) and sophomore Eddie Bourchier (Hobart, Australia) took on Michigan State's John Stratton and Alex Forger in the No. 2 matchup. Stratton and Forger defeated the Lions, 8-5 to give Michigan State an early advantage in doubles. Penn State took over in the final two matches.
Senior Brendan Lynch (North Potomac, Md.) and junior Guillaume St-Maurice (Saint-Eustache, Quebec) defeated Scott Rasmussen and Austin Brooks in the No. 3 bout, 8-3. The doubles point was determined in the No. 1 bout where senior Adam Slagter (Austin, Texas) and freshman Jason Lee (Melbourne, Australia) earned a close 9-7 victory over the Spartans' Jason Norville and John Allare.
With Penn State leading 1-0, the match moved to singles action. In the No. 4 spot, Bourchier matched up with Brooks. The Nittany Lion sophomore defeated Brooks in straight sets, 7-5, 6-0, to give Penn State a 2-0 lead. Lee built Penn State's lead up to 3-0, as he earned a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Rasmussen. The win was Lee's second victory on the weekend.
In the No. 6 bout, Gormley lost to Jason Norville in straight sets, 6-3, 7-5, to trim Penn State's lead down to two. However, Michigan State's run was over from there.
The match was clinched in the No. 1 bout when Slagter defeated Allare in straight sets, 7-6 (7), 6-1. It was Slagter's first appearance in the No. 1 spot since Feb. 23 and his first victory in the position since Jan. 24. The Lions had the match clinched with the score being 4-1.
In the No. 5 matchup, St-Maurice was defeated by Ronnie Hulewicz in straight sets, 6-1, 7-6 (3). The Lions earned their fifth point though, when Lynch made his return to the No. 2 spot. The senior captain downed Forger in straight sets, 4-6, 6-1, 6-4 to give Penn State a 5-2 win over the Spartans.
Penn State will continue its road trip to Illinois and Indiana next weekend. Both match times are set for noon.
Final Score: #51 Penn State 5 def. Michigan State 2
Doubles
1. Jason Lee/Adam Slagter (PSU) def. Jason Norville/John Allare (MSU), 9-7
2. John Stratton/Alex Forger (MSU) def. Eddie Bourchier/Ryan Gormley (PSU), 8-5
3. Brendon Lynch/Guillaume St-Maurice (PSU) def. Scott Rasmussen/Austin Brooks (MSU), 8-3
Order of finish: 2, 3, 1
Singles
1. Adam Slagter (PSU) def. John Allare (MSU), 7-6(7), 6-1
2. Brendon Lynch (PSU) def. Alex Forger (MSU), 4-6, 6-1, 6-4
3. Jason Lee (PSU) def. Scott Rasmussen (MSU), 6-3, 6-2
4. Eddie Bouchier (PSU) def. Austin Brooks (MSU), 7-5, 6-0
5. Ronnie Hulewicz (MSU) def. Guillaume St-Maurice (PSU), 6-1, 7-6(3)
6. Jason Norville (MSU) def. Ryan Gormley (PSU), 6-3, 7-5
Order of finish: 4, 3, 6, 1, 5, 2