UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The No. 34 Penn State men's tennis team is set to open the 2019 NCAA Tournament Friday at 10 a.m. when the Nittany Lions take on Monmouth at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing, N.Y.
"We're very fired up," said head coach Jeff Zinn. "The complex that we're playing at is the site of the U.S. Open and the guys are excited. The Big Ten is tough and it readies you for anything you're going to see. We feel like we can play with anybody in the country."
FOLLOW ALONG
Live Stats
NCAA Tournament Bracket
Admittance to the USTA National Tennis Center: Fans and family that plan on traveling to this weekend's matches should be aware that The National Tennis Center has increased its security and ALL persons entering the facilities must present a government issued ID. Attendees will be given a wristband and also an NCAA credential that must be on display for the duration of the tournament.
Our 🎟️ is punched and our 👀👀 are set on the NCAA Tournament!
— Penn State Men's Tennis (@pennstateMTEN) May 1, 2019
Hear from head coach Jeff Zinn what the team is expecting at Columbia this weekend! pic.twitter.com/tgOyLtidzs
PENN STATE'S NCAA TOURNAMENT HISTORY
The Nittany Lions are making their eighth NCAA Tournament appearance in school history and first since 2016. Penn State will be appearing in the tournament for the third time under eighth-year head coach Jeff Zinn.
Penn State has won its first-round matchup in four of its seven previous trips to the NCAA Tournament, including each of the last three appearances (2016, 2014 and 2008). In the Nittany Lions' last trip to the Big Dance, Penn State took down Columbia 4-3 in the first round before falling to host Virginia 4-1 in Charlottesville, Va. in 2016.
The Nittany Lions have faced Columbia, the host of this year's first and second round action, twice in previous NCAA Tournaments. Penn State is 2-0 against the Lions, with the wins coming in 2016 and 1998. Penn State has not previously faced Monmouth or Bryant in postseason action.
HOW THEY GOT HERE
Penn State went 19-8 this spring to put together its most successful season since 2014. That record included a nearly-perfect 11-1 mark at home.
The Nittany Lions went 8-3 in the Big Ten competition and entered the conference tournament as a No. 3 seed to tie a program-best from 2014. The team defeated then-No. 16 Michigan, 5-2, at home to highlight its Big Ten season.
Constant De La Bassetiere (Reims, France) led the charge with a 20-4 singles record and a 10-2 conference record. He is 10-2 over ranked opponents this season and will also represent Penn State at the NCAA Singles Championship. The singles and doubles competition will be contested May 20-25 at the USTA National Campus in Orlando, following the conclusion of the team championship, which runs from May 16-19.
SCOUTING THE FIRST AND SECOND ROUND FIELD
Monmouth, Penn State's first-round opponent, went 18-1 this season and has not lost a match since Feb. 9 (4-0 loss to Navy). The team captured its fourth-straight MAAC Conference title after sweeping Fairfield, 4-0, and Quinnipiac, 4-0, in the conference tournament. Penn State and Monmouth last met in the 2017 season when Blue and White hosted the Hawks and earned the 7-0 sweep. Penn State is 3-0 all-time against Monmouth.
No. 16 national seed Columbia is fresh off its sixth-straight Ivy League title, compiling a 17-3 overall record with an unmatched 7-0 mark in conference play to claim the crown outright. The Lions' only three losses of the season came against top-10 teams – all of which were on the road. Columbia advanced to the Sweet 16 of last year's NCAA Tournament. The Nittany Lions are 2-12 all-time against Columbia, with both of those wins coming in previous NCAA Tournaments.
Bryant earned a bid to the Big Dance after securing its sixth-straight Northeast Conference Championship with a 4-0 win over Wagner. The Bulldogs claimed a program-record 20 wins this season, finishing 20-10 overall and 6-0 in the NEC. Penn State and Bryant have never faced each other.
UP NEXT
The winner of the Penn State vs. Monmouth match will advance to Saturday's second round at 12 p.m. against the winner of the Columbia-Bryant match.
The second-round winner advances to next weekend's Super Regionals against the winner of the Ohio State/Cleveland State/Notre Dame/Vanderbilt regional.