March 18, 2018
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The No. 48 Penn State men's tennis team faced Big Ten foe Michigan State today. The Lions defeated the Spartans, 5-1, notching their first conference win.
In doubles, the Lions clinched the point on court three with a win from Constant De La Bassetiere (Reims, France) and Gabriel Nemeth (Brasilia, Brazil) over Davis Wong and Josh Mukherjee, 6-4. Christos Antonopoulos (Athens, Greece) and Alp Sentay (Izmar, Turkey) dominated their match knocking off Brett Forman and Jasper Koenen, 6-2, in less than 25 minutes. Christian Lakoseljac (King City, Ontario) and Matt Galush's (Cary, N.C.) match against Billy Shisler and Jack Winkler went unfinished, 5-3.
In singles, the team went 4-1. Lakoseljac's multiple service aces led him to a 6-1, 6-3 win over Forman. Antonopoulos outmatched Wong 6-3, 7-5. Nemeth clinched the win for the team with a comeback over Shisler in the third set, 6-0, 6-7 (9-7), 6-2.
No. 94 De La Bassetiere won by retirement while Sentay's match was abandoned. Galush lost his match by retirement.
"It's always nice to get a Big Ten win," said head coach Jeff Zinn. "Michigan State is so well coached and they fight hard. We need matches like this because when you come off of a good win yesterday in a tough match, then you have less than 24 hours to recover and try to get back and play at that level again. I don't think we played at that level but we did the job, got the win and it helps start our Big Ten season. I thought our doubles were really good again. We switched up our doubles team and it seems to be working for these past two matches. Good win today."
"I felt like we were in control for most of the matches," said associate head coach Paul Tobin. "I felt really comfortable with doubles. The work the guys have been putting in is paying off. Michigan State is one of those teams that has given us a hard time in the past. They certainly pressed us at No. 2 and No. 4 singles. We just have to remain confident and keep getting better."
The Lions are now 10-6 on the season and remain undefeated at home. The team is back in action tonight at 7 p.m. when they take on Bucknell in the second part of their double header at the Indoor Tennis Center.
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. A. Sentay/C. Antonopoulos (PSU) def. B. Forman/J. Koenen (MSU) 6-2
2. C. Lakoseljac/M. Galush (PSU) vs. B. Shisler/J. Winkler (MSU) 5-3
3. C. De La Bassetiere/G. Nemeth (PSU) def. D. Wong/J. Mukherjee (MSU) 6-4
Order of finish: 1, 3
Singles Results:
1. Christian Lakoseljac (PSU) def. Brett Forman (MSU) 6-1, 6-3
2. No. 94 Constant De La Bassetiere (PSU) def. Josh Mukherjee (MSU) 6-3, 5-7, 5-1, won by retirement
3. Christos Antonopoulos (PSU) def. Davis Wong (MSU) 6-3, 7-5
4. Gabriel Nemeth (PSU) def. Billy Shisler (MSU) 6-0, 7-6 (9-7), 6-2
5. Jasper Koenen (MSU) def. Matt Galush (PSU) 2-6, 0-1, won by retirement
6. Alp Sentay (PSU) vs. Jack Winkler (MSU) 2-0, unfinished
Order of finish: 1, 3, 4, 2