Feb. 3, 2011
UNIVERSITY PARK, PA. - The Penn State men's tennis team (3-1) will continue their homestand Saturday, Feb. 5 against N.C. State at 9 a.m. and Bloomsburg at 2 p.m. at the Penn State Indoor Tennis Center. Admission is free for both matches.
The Nittany Lions wrapped up their third home victory in as many attempts Sunday, beating Army, 5-2. Senior Eddie Bourchier (Hobart, Australia) and his partner, freshman Russell Bader (Austin, Texas), overcame a tough match from Army's Rashad Shelton and Tripp Johnson to win 8-5, while sophomore Bryan Welnetz (Laredo, Texas) and junior Taylor Cohen (Philadelphia, Pa.) overcame deficits of 4-1 and 5-2 to post an 8-6 victory, taking the doubles portion of the match for the Nittany Lions.
In singles action, Penn State got off to a fast start as Bader (6-1, 6-2) and Welnetz (6-4, 6-2) each posted victories. Freshman Chris Young won his first career match, rebounding from down 4-0 in the first set and 3-1 in the second set to win, 7-5, 6-4 and clinch the match for the Nittany Lions. Junior Chris Hasyn (Lansdale, Pa.) also posted a victory for the Nittany Lions.
Bourchier looks to continue his quest to become the Penn State career doubles victories leader this weekend. After posting his third doubles victory of the season against Army, Bourchier now owns 67 career victories, six short of the record 73 wins.
The No. 56 N.C. State Wolfpack (4-3) are led by head coach John Choboy. The Wolfpack return a wealth of experience with six upper classmen on the roster, which features three Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) top 125 players, including juniors Jamie Pulgar (No. 68) and Dominic Hodgson (No. 86) and sophomore Dave Thomson (No. 106). With a win, the Nittany Lions would even the all-time series record between the two foes at 2-2.
In the second match of the doubleheader, Penn State will face coach Todd Doebler's alma mater, Bloomsburg (0-0). The Huskies, led by coach Marty Coyne, enter 2011 fresh off of a 10-9 season that saw them earn a Division II NCAA Regional berth last season. Bloomsburg returns an experienced roster, led by Centre County native, junior Ricky Dove. Dove returns to take on Bourchier in the No. 1 singles position. The teams have met 34 times previously with the Nittany Lions taking 30 of 34 in the series.
The Nittany Lions will remain home next weekend for three matches. The first match of a busy weekend brings Cornell to University Park Saturday, Feb. 12 at noon. The Nittany Lions will then play host to a doubleheader against Buffalo at 11 a.m. and Bucknell at 4 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 13. All matches will be played at the Penn State Indoor Tennis Center and admission is free.