March 28, 2012
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; - Senior Jason Lee (Sydney, Australia) and sophomore Russell Bader (Austin, Texas) set out to achieve something special this year. The duo has been working diligently since day one to arrive at the top of the ITA doubles rankings by the end of the season. This week the Nittany Lions' No. 1 doubles pairing has been rewarded, coming in at No. 25 in the latest ITA poll.
Lee and Bader climbed as high as No. 19 two weeks ago following an, 8-6, upset victory over Ohio State's No. 28 Devin McCarthy and Ille Van Engelen, Friday, March 11. However, the pairing did not play over the weekend, as Lee was a late scratch and could not play in losses to No. 21 Indiana and No. 70 Purdue.
The powerful duo currently holds an 11-1 record on the season, including a perfect, 3-0, record against nationally ranked opponents. The duo stormed onto the national scene and entered the upper echelon of doubles pairings in February as they reeled off back-to-back wins against Princeton's (No. 11) Matt Siow and Matt Spindler, 8-7 (3), and Virginia Tech's (No. 51) Luka Somen and Corrado Delg'Incerti Tocci, 8-6.
Lee currently stands sixth all-time in Penn State history with 66 doubles victories. With one victory this weekend, the senior co-captain will jump into a three-way tie for fifth place all-time with Michael Carter (1993-97) and Marc Dorfman (1995-00). If the Aussie can cash in on two victories, he will jump into a tie for fourth place with 68 triumphs. In 2011, Eddie Bourchier (2007-11) shattered Michael James' (2004-08) previous record of 73 doubles wins. Bourchier now holds the career record with 82 triumphs.
The Nittany Lions will host their Big Ten conference opener against the Iowa Hawkeyes Friday, March 30 at 3 p.m. The Lions will then take on the Nebraska Cornhuskers Sunday, April 1 at 11 a.m. Weather permitting, both matches will be held outdoors at the Sarni Tennis Center. Free pizza will be available for all fans in attendance.
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