Feb. 26, 2011
Montgomery, Ala. - The Penn State men's tennis team (6-5) dropped its second match at the annual Blue Gray Tournament to Alabama (6-2) Saturday evening, 4-1. The Nittany Lions will close out play at the Blue Gray Tournament Sunday at 4:30 p.m. (CDT) against either No. 36 Boise State or No. 46 Arizona.
Penn State began the doubles match quickly before dropping the first point to the Crimson Tide. Junior Jason Lee (Sydney, Austrlia) and freshman C.J. Griffin (Portland, Mich.) started the match with a resounding victory, defeating Jarryd Botha and Daniil Proskura, 8-3 in second doubles. Senior Eddie Bourchier (Hobart, Australia) and freshman Russell Bader (Austin, Texas) could not keep the momentum going, losing in first singles, 8-6. The Tide finished the doubles portion of the match strong as Michael Thompson and Trey Walson defeated sophomore Byran Welnetz (Laredo, Texas) and junior Taylor Cohen (Philadelphia, Pa.), 8-2, to clinch the point.
Trailing 1-0, the Nittany Lions rebounded as Welnetz defeated Vikram Reedy in third singles to tie the match (7-5, 6-0). The Tide took control of the match from there, as Proskura beat Bader in fourth singles (6-3, 6-3) to regain the lead, 2-1.
With the Nittany Lions trailing 2-1 in the best-of-seven match, Thompson topped junior Chris Hasyn (Lansdale, Pa.) 7-5, 6-2 in fifth singles. Botha then defeated Lee in second singles (6-4, 6-4) to clinch the match for the Tide. Play was stopped after the Tide clinched the match with Bourchier and Ricky Doverspike tied in first singles (7-6, 7-6) and Griffin trailing Carlos Taborga in sixth singles (5-7, 6-3, 1-0).
#32 Alabama 4, Penn State 1
Doubles:
1. Ricky Doverspike/Vikram Reddy (Ala.) def. Eddie Bourchier/Russell Bader (PSU), 8-6
2. Jason Lee/C.J. Griffin (PSU) def. Jarryd Botha/Daniil Proskura (Ala.), 8-3
3. Michael Thompson/Trey Walston (Ala.) def. Bryan Welnetz/Taylor Cohen (PSU), 8-2
Order of finish: 2, 1, 3
Singles:
1. Ricky Doverspike (Ala.) tied Eddie Bourchier (PSU), 7-6, 6-7 - DNF
2. Jarryd Botha (Ala.) def. Jason Lee (PSU), 6-4, 6-4
3. Bryan Welnetz (PSU) def. Vikram Reddy (Ala.), 7-5, 6-0
4. Danill Proskura (Ala.) def. Russell Bader (PSU), 6-3, 6-3
5. Michael Thompson (Ala.) def. Chris Hasyn (PSU), 7-5, 6-2
6. Carlos Taborga (Ala.) led C.J. Griffin (PSU), 5-7, 6-3, 1-0 - DNF
Order of finish: 3, 4, 5, 2