March 22, 2012
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Penn State Nittany Lions (10-4, 0-1) will conclude a six-match road swing this weekend with two contests against two Big Ten foes. The Nittany Lions head to Bloomington, Ind. to take on the No. 21 Indiana Hoosiers (12-3, 1-0) Friday, March 23 and remain on the road for another Big Ten bout against the No. 70 Purdue Boilermakers (6-7, 0-1) Sunday, March 25.
Penn State closed out its non-conference schedule on a high note last weekend, defeating Cornell, 5-2. The 19th-ranked doubles team, senior Jason Lee (Sydney, Australia) and sophomore Russell Bader (Austin, Texas), earned their 11th doubles victory of the season. Senior Taylor Cohen (Philadelphia, Pa.) and junior Bryan Welnetz (Laredo, Texas) sealed the doubles point with an 8-6 triumph over Danny Riggs and Sam Fleck. The Nittany Lions ran off four consecutive singles victories, including Lee's clincher over No. 109 Venkat Iyer (7-5, 6-3) to secure their 10th victory of the season. With the victory last weekend, Penn State finished its second straight season with 10 victories in non-conference play.
Lee continues to climb the all-time doubles victories chart. The senior co-captain currently claims sole possession of sixth place on Penn State's career doubles wins list after teaming with Bader to clinch an 11th victory of the season. With a triumph this weekend Lee will tie Michael Carter (1993-1997) and Mark Dorfman (1995-2000) for fifth place with 67 wins. If Lee can earn two victories this weekend he will move into a three-man tie for fourth place all-time with 68 wins.
Cohen, red-shirt junior Christopher Hasyn (Lansdale, Pa.) and Welnetz are teaming together to create a formidable back end of the singles rotation. Cohen and Hasyn lead the surging Nittany Lion singles attack, each posting 8-2 records in their last 10 matches. Welnetz also claims a 9-4 record on the season in the No. 5 slot. Their impressive play has boosted the Nittany Lions singles attack to new heights this season.
The Hoosiers, who are led by fifth-year head coach Randy Bloemendaal, are coming off of a 6-1 victory over Purdue Wednesday afternoon to open Big Ten play. Isade Juneau owns the first singles slot for Indiana. The junior has posted a 9-5 record, including a 1-3 record against nationally ranked opponents. Josh MacTaggart, an all-Big Ten performer last season, resides in the second singles position. He currently owns an 11-3 record this season. Juneau and Jeremy Langer team together to form a tough first doubles opponent for Lee and Bader, as well. Indiana leads the all-time series, 7-14.
Purdue is coming off of a 6-1 loss to Indiana in its Big Ten opener, but has faced tough competition all season, playing eight ranked opponents thus far. Pawel Gajdzik is at the helm for a third season in West Lafayette, Ind, posting 30 wins to this point. Mark Kovacs and Krisztian Krocsko lead the Boilermakers in first and second singles action. Aaron Dujovne and Szymon Tatarczyk lead the way for the Boilers in doubles play. Penn State and Purdue are deadlocked at 13-13 in the all-time series.
Following the weekend road trip, the Nittany Lions will return to Happy Valley for their Big Ten home opener against Iowa on March 30. Admission is free for all matches held at the Sarni Tennis Center and Indoor Tennis Center. Free pizza will be served to all fans in attendance.