WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The Penn State men's tennis team (9-9, 1-2 B1G) took down Big Ten conference opponent Purdue (8-8, 1-1 B1G) in a thrilling 4-1 match at the Schwartz Tennis Center in West Lafayette on Friday afternoon.
"Being down two players because of injury and illness I am so proud of the way we played today," said head coach Jeff Zinn. "Purdue was a "hot" team that has been playing really well lately. To win on the road in the Big Ten justifies the hard work and effort we have been putting in. We need to keep this level up for Sunday's match. That is something we will talk about these next two days.
"Boys dug down deep in singles after taking the doubles point," said associate head coach Paul Tobin. "It was touch and go for a while, both teams going up and down. Good to see us on the other end of several three setters. Need to keep this momentum going on Sunday against Indiana."
DOUBLES
Penn State secured the doubles point with victories on courts one and two.
First-time pairing Miko Eala and Bora Sengul collected a win on court two against Gabriele Brancatelli and Athell Bennett in a 6-2 decision. Clinching the point at No. 1, Malik Bhatnagar and Charl Morgan improved to 4-1 on the season with a 6-3 win over Michal Wozniak and Piotr Galus.
At No. 3, Alexander Karman and Sam Bossem held a 5-3 lead opposite Purdue's Sebastian Welch and Milledge Cossu when the Nittany Lions earned the first point of the dual match.
SINGLES
The Nittany Lions held off the Boilermakers with wins on courts one, four, and six.
At No. 1, Eala defeated Welch in straight sets 6-2, 6-4. Grabbing Penn State's next point, Ismail Saadi bested Cossu in a 6-4, 7-6 result. Morgan clinched the dual match in a hard-fought 6-3, 4-6, 6-2 decision over Wozniak on court four.
With this win, Penn State earned its first conference win of the season.
RESULTS
Penn State 4, Purdue 1
Doubles Results
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Malik Bhatnagar/Charl Morgan (PSU) def. Michal Wozniak/Piotr Galus (PUR) 6-2
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Miko Eala/Bora Sengul (PSU) def. Gabriele Brancatelli/Athell Bennett (PUR) 6-2
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Alexander Karman/Sam Bossem (PSU) vs. Sebastian Welch/Milledge Cossu (PUR) 5-3, unfinished
Order of finish: 2, 1
Singles Results
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Miko Eala (PSU) def. Sebastian Welch (PUR) 6-2, 6-4
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Gabriele Brnacatelli (PUR) def. Malik Bhatnagar (PSU) 6-2, 6-4
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Bora Sengul (PSU) vs. Rohan Sachdev (PUR) 2-6, 7-6(6), 6-6 [6-4], unfinished
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Charl Morgan (PSU) def. Michal Wozniak (PUR) 6-3, 4-6, 6-2
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Sam Bossem (PSU) vs. Piotr Galus (PUR) 5-7, 6-3, 2-3, unfinished
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Ismail Saadi (PSU) def. Milledge Cossu (PUR) 6-4, 7-6(6)
Order of finish: 2, 1, 6, 4
UP NEXT
Penn State will travel to Bloomington, Ind. To face the Indiana Hoosiers in another conference matchup on Sunday, April 3 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.