Feb. 5, 2010
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Following a strong showing at ITA Kick-Off Weekend last week, the Penn State men's tennis team (3-1, 0-0) will return to Happy Valley this Sunday for a noon match up with the Maryland Terripans. Action will take place at the Penn State Indoor Tennis Center and admission is free.
Last Time Out: The Nittany Lions are coming off a 1-1 finish at ITA Kick-Off Weekend last week in Gainesville, Fla. Penn Sate picked up a 6-1 victory over the No. 59 Furman Paladins to improve to 3-1 on the season. Junior Eddie Bourchier (Hobart, Australia) went a combined 3-0 in singles and doubles competition. Bourchier carries a 4-0 record in singles action heading into the match with Maryland.
Scouting Maryland: The Terps head into this weekend's match with a perfect 3-0 record. Last weekend, Maryland swept Georgetown, Villanova and Howard to open the 2010 season. John Collins is ranked as the 121st-best singles player according to the ITA National Rankings. Collins carries a 3-0 record with all three of his victories coming in the No. 5 bout.
All-Time vs. the Terripans: Penn State carries a 5-32 all-time record vs. Maryland. Penn State picked up a 7-0 victory over the No. 74 Terps last season at College Park. Maryland's most recent victory over Penn State came on March 16, 1991 in a 6-3 victory over the Lions.
Bloomsburg Match Moved: The Penn State men's tennis team has announced that its match originally scheduled vs. Bloomsburg on Feb. 7 has been moved to April 11. The Nittany Lions were originally set to square off in a doubleheader on Sunday vs. Maryland followed by Bloomsburg. Penn State will now have a doubleheader on April 11. The Lions will square off with Michigan State at noon, followed by Bloomsburg at 5 p.m. All action will take place on the University Park campus.
What's Next: Penn State will continue its seven-match homestand with Buffalo on Feb. 13. The Nittany Lions will take on St. Bonaventure and Bucknell the following day in a doubleheader. Big Ten season will kickoff for Penn State on March 7 with an 11 a.m. match up with Purdue on the University Park campus.