UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; The Penn State men's tennis team competed against the Iowa Hawkeyes today on the road. It was a close match, but the blue and white pulled off the win in a 4-3 outcome.
Penn State clinched the doubles point today, with all three teams outscoring Iowa's pairs. Christos Antonopoulos (Athens, Greece) and David Kohan (Sydney, Australia) secured the first doubles win with a 6-3 win over Jonas Larsen and Jake Jacoby. Nika Dolidze (Tbilisi, Georgia) and Christian Lutschaunig (Richboro, Pa.) clinched the doubles point for the blue and white with a 6-4 take down of Robin Haden and Nils Hallestrand.
Singles brought about a 3-3 tie after five matches. Ben Lieb (Newtown Square, Pa.) defeated Robin Haden 6-1, 6-4. Aws Laaribi (Rye, N.Y.) was victorious over Jake Jacoby 6-3, 6-2. Marc Collado (Barcelona, Spain) took down Jason Kerst 6-3, 6-0. These singles wins overpowered the Hawkeyes and gave the blue and white today's win.
"In one of the hardest weather conditions we have experienced this season we came up with a "huge" team win," commented head coach Jeff Zinn. "I do mean "team" win because all ten players contributed either by playing or their cheering from the sidelines. The rain came, let up, came again, but each time we went back out and kept putting pressure on Iowa. I'm really pleased with our doubles play in the last few matches. We have amped up the energy and all three teams are playing exceptionally well. I'm really happy for my senior team of Nika Dolidze and Christian Lutschaunig, they have brought so much enthusiasm to our doubles and it is rubbing off on the other two teams. I'm also going to point out the clinching match of Aws Laaribi - he clinched the deciding point in a commanding fashion against a really good player. I'm so happy for him and his clutch play today."
"It's always great to get back-to-back wins on the road in the Big Ten," said associate head coach Paul Tobin. "I feel like our doubles is finally clicking and that's taking some pressure off of our guys in singles. Playing outside with wind and rain, the balls were tough to put away. We need to develop better patience and work the ball inside the baseline, things we've been telling these guys all year."
The Penn State men's tennis team's next conquest will be two more conference match ups. First against Purdue on Friday, April 7 at 4:00 p.m. followed by a match up against Indiana on Sunday, April 9 at 12:00 p.m.
Keep up with the Penn State men's tennis team at GoPSUsports.com. For continued updates throughout the year, make sure to `like' our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/pennstatemten and follow our twitter @pennstateMTEN!
Doubles Results:
1. C. De La Bassetiere/Christian Lakoseljac (PSU) vs. Josh Silverstein/Kareem Allaf (IOWA) 6-5, unfinished
2. C. Antonopoulos/David Kohan (PSU) def. Jonas Larsen/Jake Jacoby (IOWA) 6-3
3. Nika Dolidze/C. Lutschaunig (PSU) def. Robin Haden/Nils Hallestrand (IOWA) 6-4
Order of Finish: 2, 3
Singles Results:
1. Kareem Allaf (IOWA) def. C. De La Bassetiere (PSU) 6-4, 6-1
2. Josh Silverstein (IOWA) def. Christian Lakoseljac (PSU) 6-4, 6-4
3. Jonas Larsen (IOWA) def. C. Antonopoulos (PSU) 6-3, 6-1
4. Aws Laaribi (PSU) def. Jake Jacoby (IOWA) 6-3, 6-2
5. Ben Lieb (PSU) def. Robin Haden (IOWA) 6-1, 6-4
6. Marc Collado (PSU) def. Jason Kerst (IOWA) 6-3, 6-0
Order of Finish: 1, 3, 5, 2, 4, 6