March 25, 2011
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - The Penn State men's tennis team (10-9, 0-2) had its four-match winning streak snapped against No. 10 Illinois (10-6, 2-0) Friday afternoon. With a victory in first doubles, senior Eddie Bourchier (Hobart, Australia) broke the Penn State career doubles victories record with his 79th doubles victory.
The Nittany Lions started slowly, dropping two of three doubles matches and falling behind 1-0. Sophomore Bryan Welnetz (Laredo, Texas) and junior Christopher Hasyn (Lansdale, Pa.) could not overcome a fast start by Dennis Nevolo and Roy Kalmanovich, dropping third doubles, 8-2. Bourchier and freshman Russell Bader (Austin, Texas) then dominated Johnny Hamui and Brian Alden in the No. 1 doubles bout, 8-4, to earn the Nittany Lions lone victory on the afternoon. Bourchier passed Michael James' career doubles victories record with the win. Finally, in second doubles, Abe Souza and Stephen Hoh defeated junior Jason Lee (Sydney, Australia) and sophomore C.J. Griffin (Portland, Mich.), 8-5, to claim the doubles point for the Illini.
After falling behind 1-0, the Nittany Lions looked to turn their fortunes around in singles play. Bourchier could not overcome ITA No. 7 ranked Nevolo in first singles (6-1, 6-3), giving Illinois an early 2-0 lead. Welnetz met an equally tough challenge in Kalmanovich. The Texan fell in third singles (6-2 6-3), increasing the deficit to 3-0.
Illinois secured a fourth point and the match in sixth singles as Bruno Abdelnour (No. 64) beat back freshman Chris Young (Melbourne, Australia), 6-1, 6-2.
Once the match had been decided, Hasyn fell to Souza (6-2, 6-3) to widen the margin to 5-0. Lee then dropped the first set against Hamui (No. 78), 6-2. He made a valiant comeback effort in the second set before eventually falling and dropping the second singles bout (6-2, 6-4).
Bader provided the Nittany Lions with a spirited effort in fourth singles, pushing both sets to a tie breaker. He eventually went on to drop both tiebreakers in heart breaking fashion, falling to Hoh and clinching a sweep for Illinois (7-6 (5), 7-6 (3)).
#10 Illinois 7, Penn State 0
Doubles:
1. Eddie Bourchier/Russell Bader (PSU) def. Johnny Hamui/Brian Alden (ILL) 8-4
2. Abe Souza/Stephen Hoh (ILL) def. Jason Lee/C.J. Griffin (PSU) 8-5
3. Dennis Nevolo/Roy Kalmanovich (ILL) def. Bryan Welnetz/Christopher Hasyn (PSU) 8-2
Order of finish: 3, 1, 2
Singles:
1. #7 Dennis Nevolo (ILL) def. Eddie Bourchier (PSU) 6-1, 6-3
2. #78 Johnny Hamui (ILL) def. Jason Lee (PSU) 6-2, 6-4
3. Roy Kalmanovich (ILL) def. Bryan Welnetz (PSU) 6-2, 6-3
4. Stephen Hoh (ILL) def. Russell Bader (PSU) 7-6 (7-5), 7-6 (7-3)
5. Abe Souza (ILL) def. Christopher Hasyn (PSU) 6-2, 6-3
6. #64 Bruno Abdelnour (ILL) def. Chris Young (PSU) 6-1, 6-2
Order of Finish: 1, 3, 6, 5, 2, 4
The Nittany Lions will continue the weekend road swing Sunday in Iowa City against the Hawkeyes at 11 a.m. Penn State will then travel to Evanston, Ill. to face the Northwestern Wildcats Sunday, April 3 at 11 a.m.