Nov. 7, 2015
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. ââ'¬" The Penn State men's tennis team continue play at the Big Ten Indoor Championships and USTA Collegiate Clay Courts Tournament Saturday. First-seeded Tomas Hanzlik (Prague, Czech Republic) advanced into the Garnet Draw singles in the Clay Courts Tournament.
Hanzlik toughed out the harsh conditions in Orlando on Saturday to advance through the quarterfinals and semifinals. He took down Wood Benton form USC in a quick 6-4, 6-3 match in the morning. As the day went on, the heat and humidity rose giving the players tough conditions to play in. Red-shirt senior Hanzlik continued to dominate in the semifinals taking down fourth-seeded Andrew Li 6-3, 6-2. He will play in the finals on Sunday.
"Tomas played strong against two quality opponents today," said Head Coach Jeff Zinn, "The players really had to tough it out not only physically with the 90-degree weather and 100% humidity but mentally as well. You had to want it more than your opponents in these conditions today."
In Iowa City at the Clay Courts Tournament, the Penn State freshman showed up big. Matt Galush (Cary, N.C.) and Ben Lieb (Newtown Square, Pa.) both advanced through the Round of 32 into the Round of 16 to play Sunday. Second-seed Lieb breezed through a 6-2, 6-3 match against Michigan State's Michael Dube. Eleven-seed Galush also made quick work of Lucas Dages from Purdue in a two-set victory. Both will continue play Sunday.
Zach Lieb (Newtown Square, Pa.) started the day strong with an easy 6-0, 6-3 win over Minnesota's Jesse Sprinkel in the Round of 64. Lieb got caught up against fifth-seeded Asher Hirsch from Illinois in tough three-set loss.
"A good day for the freshman today in Iowa. Freshman Matt Galush, Ben Lieb, and Zach Lieb all advanced through the Round of 64," said Assistant Coach Paul Tobin, "Zach ended up falling to the fifth-seed in three sets, in which it came down to two deuce points."
Fifth-seeded David Kohan (Sydney, Australia) started off his singles play with a three-set win over Nebraska's Bradford Zitsch. The senior came back from losing the first set 6-7(4) to winning the second and third 6-4.
Christian Lutschaunig (Richboro, Pa.) brought everything he had to get a win against Illinois' Aiden Jiang to start his day. The junior came back from losing the first set, to winning the next two 6-3, 7-5 in the Round of 64. Lutschaunig caught trouble in the Round of 32 against first-seeded Dusty Boyer from Nebraska with a two-set loss.
"Christian, who came back from being down a set, pulled out a good win in the Round of 64," said Coach Tobin, "There will be some tougher opponents tomorrow but the boys are playing well and I am optimistic."
The USTA Collegiate Clay Courts Tournament will continue until Sunday at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World near Orlando, Fla. ESPN3 will have live coverage of the men's singles finals following the women's singles finals starting at 9 a.m. Live updates can be found on the tournament's Twitter page (@2015_CCI).
Big Ten Men's Indoor Championships will continue on through Monday. Live updates of each match will be posted through Twitter using @2015B1GIndoors.
Please check back to GoPSUSports.com throughout the weekend for more coverage of the Penn State men's tennis team. Follow Penn State men's tennis on Facebook at facebook.com/pennstatemenstennis and on twitter @pennstateMTEN.
Big Ten Men's Championships Day 2
Singles (Round of 64 & 32):
64: Christian Lutschaunig (PSU) def. Aiden Jiang (ILL), 3-6,7-6(7), 6-2
32: [1] Dusty Boyer (NEB) def. Christian Lutschaunig (PSU), 6-3, 7-5
64:Zach Lieb (PSU) def. Jesse Sprinkel (MINN), 6-0, 6-3
32: [5] Asher Hirsch (ILL) def. Zach Lieb (PSU), 6-0, 3-6, 6-2
32: [5] David Kohan (PSU) def. Bradford Zitsch (NEB), 6-7(4), 6-4, 6-4
32: [11] Matt Galush (PSU) def. Lucas Dages (PUR), 6-3, 6-2
32: [2] Ben Lieb (PSU) def. Michael Dube (MSU), 6-2, 6-3
Collegiate Clay Courts Day 3
Singles Garnet Draw (Quarterfinals, Semifinals):
Quarterfinals: [1] Tomas Hanzlik (PSU) def. Wood Benton (USC), 6-4, 6-3 Semifinals: [1] Tomas Hanzlik (PSU) def. [4] Andrew Li (G TECH), 6-3, 6-2