MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — A doubles win was not enough to lift Penn State men's tennis (3-6, 3-6 B1G) over 45th-ranked Minnesota (5-4, 5-4 B1G) in the team's first outdoor match of the season. The Nittany Lions fell to the Gophers in a 4-3 decision Sunday afternoon in the Baseline Tennis Center.
"Tough one today for the Nittany Lions," said head coach Jeff Zinn. "It was our first match outside and there were very tough conditions to play in, but I thought we handled it well. I really want to congratulate Bora and Tim for some outstanding matches today. They both beat very good opponents. We need to regroup and play some matches at home, which will be a welcome relief."
"We put ourselves in a great position to pull off a ranked win on the road," associate head coach Paul Tobin said. "Taking the doubles point was huge. We were up 3-1 and could not find another 'W.' It is a disappointing loss, but it is time to focus our attention on these upcoming home matches against Iowa and Nebraska."
DOUBLES
In a thrilling doubles match, the Nittany Lions took the point with wins at No. 2 and 3.
At the No. 1 spot, Tim Ruetzel (Munich, Germany) and Charl Morgan (Johannesburg, South Africa) came up short against Siim Troost and Vlad Lobak, 6-4.
On court two, No. 40 Christian Lakoseljac (King City, Ontario, Canada) and Christos Antonopoulos (Athens, Greece) won the tiebreaker to knock off Minnesota's team of Sebastian Vile and Jackson Allen 7-6, marking the pair's second-straight win at the No. 2 slot.
On court three, Miko Eala (Philippines/Manacor, Spain) and Sam Bossem (Wimborne Minster, United Kingdom) improved to 2-0 as doubles partners as they topped the Gophers' duo of Bodin Zarkovic and Daniel Martin, 6-4.
SINGLES
Minnesota rallied from a 3-1 deficit to take wins at No. 3, 4 and 6. The deciding point came down to court four where Christos Antonopoulos fell in the third set to the Gophers' Siim Troost 2-6, 7-6, 6-3.
Tim Ruetzel earned his sixth consecutive singles win as he made quick work of Sebastian Vile winning in straight sets 6-4, 6-3.
Bora Sengul (Denizli, Turkey) swept Vlad Lobakin 6-0, 7-5 to pick up his third win of the season at the No. 2 slot.
UP NEXT
Penn State returns to University Park for a three-match home stand, starting with Iowa on Friday, March 26 and Nebraska on Sunday, March 28.
RESULTS
Minnesota 4, Penn State 3
Doubles results:
1. Siim Troost/Vlad Lobak (MINN) def. Tim Ruetzel/Charl Morgan (PSU) 6-4
2. Christian Lakoseljac/Christos Antonopoulos (PSU) def. Sebastian Vile/Jackson Allen (MINN) 7-6
3. Sam Bossem/Miko Eala (PSU) def. Bodin Zarkovic/Daniel Martin (MINN) 6-4
Order of finish: 3, 1, 2
Singles results:
1. Jackson Allen (MINN) def. Christian Lakoseljac (PSU) 6-4, 6-3
2. Bora Sengul (PSU) def. Vlad Lobak (UMN) 6-0, 7-5
3. Dylan Heap (MINN) def. Miko Eala (PSU) 7-6, 6-3
4. Siim Troost (MINN) def. Christos Antonopoulos (PSU) 2-6, 7-6, 6-3
5. Tim Ruetzel (PSU) def. Sebastian Vile (MINN) 6-4, 6-3
6. Bodin Zarkovic (MINN) def. Sam Bossem (PSU) 7-6, 7-5
Order of finish: 1, 5, 2, 6, 3, 4
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