Penn State Men's Tennis Falls to No. 26 Notre DamePenn State Men's Tennis Falls to No. 26 Notre Dame

Penn State Men's Tennis Falls to No. 26 Notre Dame

Feb. 25, 2011

Final Stats

Montgomery, Ala. - The Penn State men's tennis team (6-4) dropped the opener of the annual Blue Gray Tournament to the 26th-ranked Notre Dame Fighting Irish Friday evening, 4-0. The Nittany Lions will continue play at the Blue Gray Tournament Saturday at 4:30 p.m. (CDT) against No. 32 Alabama. The Crimson Tide dropped their first match of the tournament to No. 21 Pepperdine, 4-0.

The Nittany Lions trip to Montgomery, Ala., began slowly, dropping the doubles point and falling behind, 1-0. Senior Eddie Bourchier (Hobart, Australia) and freshman Russell Bader (Austin, Texas) started the doubles portion of the match on the right foot, upsetting ITA ranked #28 Stephen Havens and Tyler Davis, 8-4. The Irish righted the ship in third doubles as Casey Watt and Greg Andrews defeated sophomore Byran Welnetz (Laredo, Texas) and junior Taylor Cohen (Philadelphia, Pa.), 8-4. Junior Jason Lee (Sydney, Austrlia) and freshman C.J. Griffin (Portland, Mich.) fell in third doubles by an 8-4 margin to clinch the point for Notre Dame.

Trailing 1-0, the Nittany Lions turned to singles action looking to rebound. Junior Chris Hasyn (Lansdale, Pa.) dropped the fifth singles match to Samuel Keeton (6-1, 6-1) to give the Irish a quick 2-0 lead. Bourchier then fell in the first singles bout to ITA No. 77 Casey Watt (6-2, 6-2).

With the Nittany Lions trailing 3-0 in the best-of-seven match, hopes turned to freshman Chris Young (Melbourne, Australia). Young could not hold off Fitzgerald in sixth singles (6-3, 6-2), clinching the fourth and deciding point for Notre Dame.

Play was stopped after the Irish clinched the match with Lee leading Stephen Havens (6-2, 4-1) in second singles, Welnetz trailing Stahl (7-6, 2-1) in third singles and Bader behind Andrews (7-6, 3-2).

#26 Notre Dame 4, Penn State 0

Doubles:
1. Eddie Bourchier/Russell Bader (PSU) def. #28 Stephen Havens/Tyler Davis (Notre Dame), 8-4
2. #51 Spencer Talmadge/Niall Fitzgerald (Notre Dame) def. Jason Lee/C.J. Griffin (PSU), 8-4
3. Casey Watt/Greg Andrews (Notre Dame) def. Bryan Welnetz/Taylor Cohen (PSU), 8-4
Order of finish: 1, 3, 2

Singles:
1. #77 Casey Watt (Notre Dame) def. Eddie Bourchier (PSU), 6-2, 6-2
2. Jason Lee (PSU) led Stephen Havens (Notre Dame), 6-2, 4-1 - DNF
3. Daniel Stahl (Notre Dame) led Bryan Welnetz (PSU), 7-6, 2-1 - DNF
4. Greg Andrews (Notre Dame) led Russell Bader (PSU), 7-6, 3-2 - DNF
5. Samuel Keeton (Notre Dame) def. Chris Hasyn (PSU), 6-1, 6-1
6. Blas Moros (Notre Dame) def. Chris Young (PSU), 6-2, 6-2
Order of finish: 5, 1, 6