TEMPE, Ariz. – After losing the doubles point Friday afternoon, the Penn State men's tennis team (6-6) was unable to rebound in singles play. The Nittany Lions fell to Texas Tech (11-5), 4-1, in the first round of the Spring Break Tournament.
"I don't think I've ever been in a match that we had match points in four different matches and didn't win one of those matches," said head coach Jeff Zinn. "I am very proud of my team in the way they competed and represented Penn State. There's a reason that Texas Tech is a Top 25 team and they showed it in all the matches played today. We are knocking at the door and it is just a matter of time before we start knocking those doors down and winning these matches against great competition. All we can do is look forward to tomorrow's match and try to close these matches out when we are ahead."
"The guys really tried to put us into a position to get a win over a top-35 team," said associate head coach Paul Tobin. "Considering that this is our first match outside since October and Texas Tech competes outside year-round; I think we competed really well on all courts. I'm pretty confident that if we allowed the matches to play out, it would've been a one-point decision."
DOUBLES
Texas Tech secured the doubles point with wins on court one and two.
Malik Bhatnagar and Alexander Karman fell to Isaac Arevalo and Piotr Pawlak in a 7-5 decision. On court two, Chikaya Sato and Bora Sengul lost to Reed Collier and Dimitrios Azoides 6-2.
Partner's Charl Morgan and Sam Bossem were tied with Texas Tech's Franco Ribero and Ilgiz Valiev 6-6 at No. 3 before the Raiders clinched.
SINGLES
The Raiders earned wins on courts two, four, and six to clinch the match.
Sam Bossem collected the Penn State's lone point in a 7-6, 6-4 match over Texas Tech's Franco Ribero.
RESULTS
Texas Tech 4, Penn State 1
Doubles Results
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Isaac Arevalo/Piotr Pawlak (TTU) def. Malik Bhatnagar/Alexander Karman (PSU) 7-5
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Reed Collier/Dimitrios Azoides (TTU) def. Chikaya Sato/Bora Sengul (PSU) 6-2
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Charl Morgan/Sam Bossem (PSU) vs. Franco Ribero/Ilgiz Valiev (TTU) 6-6, unfinished
Order of finish: 2, 1
Singles Results
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Malik Bhatnagar (PSU) vs. Isaac Arevalo (TTU) 7-5, 1-6, 3-5, unfinished
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Reed Collier (TTU) def. Miko Eala (PSU) 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (1)
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Bora Sengul (PSU) vs. Ilgiz Valiev (TTU) 6-4, 5-7, 5-2, unfinished
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Olle Wallin (TTU) def. Loren Byers (PSU) 3-6, 7-6, 6-2
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Sam Bossem (PSU) def. Franco Ribero (TTU) 7-6 (4), 6-4
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Dimitrios Azoides (TTU) def. Charl Morgan (PSU) 6-4, 7-6 (1)
Order of finish: 6, 4, 5, 2
UP NEXT
Penn State will take on the loser of Idaho vs. Arizona State in the consolation semi-finals on Saturday, March 12 at noon ET.
Check GoPSUSports.com for coverage of the Penn State men's tennis team during the season. Follow the team on Twitter @pennstateMTEN, Instagram @pennstatemtennis and on Facebook at facebook.com/pennstatemenstennis.