UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State men's tennis team (12-10, 3-3 B1G) completed the comeback over the Michigan State Spartans (14-11, 1-6 B1G) to take the match 4-3 on Friday evening at the Sarni Tennis Center.
"I think this is one of those program gut-checks, windy and difficult conditions outside," said head coach Jeff Zinn. "How willing is your team to stay out there and fight to the very end? When the wind neutralizes play, it comes down to who can stay out there and grind out the longest and we did. Michigan State played exceptional doubles, they played exactly the way you should in these types of conditions. We made adjustments at the break for our singles. For the most part, every match was close. We lost a couple of tiebreakers, but Chikaya [Sato] came up big with one at number six. It's good to see him back from injury and to get him back in a position we are comfortable with. Overall, I can't say enough about the team and how hard they worked today to get the win."
"The wind surely played a factor in some of these tight matches, especially in doubles," said associate head coach Paul Tobin. "It came down to just making balls and having the confidence to go for your shots when given the opportunity. I'm really proud of Charl [Morgan], he was under a lot of pressure to get the clinch and "W" for the Lions."
DOUBLES
Michigan State took the doubles point with wins on courts one and three.
On court three, Sam Bossem and Loren Byers fell to Carson Gates and Max Sheldon 6-1. The Spartans clinched the doubles point when Graydon Lair and Jack Winkler defeated Malik Bhatnagar and Charl Morgan in 1 6-4 result.
At No. 2, Miko Eala and Bora Sengul were down 5-4 opposite Nick Williams and Reed Crocker. The doubles match was left unfinished.
SINGLES
The Nittany Lions earned victories on courts three, four, five, and six to edge out the Spartans.
Chikaya Sato grabbed Penn State's first point on court six in a 7-6, 6-2 decision over Josh Portnoy. Following quicky, Byers took down Lair 6-2, 2-6, 6-3 to even the match score at two. On court three, Bossem earned another Big Ten win in a 4-6, 6-2, 6-4 result opposite Luke Baylis. Finishing out the match and earning his third conference clinch, Morgan bested Michigan State's Gates 6-4, 3-6, 6-3.
RESULTS
Penn State 4, Michigan State 3
Doubles Results
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Graydon Lair/Jack Winkler (MSU) def. Malik Bhatnagar/Charl Morgan (PSU) 6-4
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Miko Eala/Bora Sengul (PSU) vs. Nick Williams/Reed Crocker (MSU) 4-5, unfinished
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Carson Gates/Max Sheldon (MSU) def. Loren Byers/Sam Bossem (PSU) 6-1
Order of finish: 3, 1
Singles Results
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Jack Winkler (MSU) def. Miko Eala (PSU) 6-3, 7-6
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Max Sheldon (MSU) def. Malik Bhatnagar (PSU) 6-1, 7-6
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Sam Bossem (PSU) def. Luke Baylis (MSU) 4-6, 6-2, 6-4
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Loren Byers (PSU) def. Graydon Lair (MSU) 6-2, 2-6, 6-3
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Charl Morgan (PSU) def. Carson Gates (MSU) 6-4, 3-6, 6-3
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Chikaya Sato PSU) def. Josh Portnoy (MSU) 7-6, 6-2
Order of finish: 2, 6, 4, 3, 1, 5
UP NEXT
The Nittany Lions host Michigan and JMU on Sunday, April 17 for a doubleheader beginning at noon ET. Penn State men's tennis will celebrate its seniors after the match against JMU.
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.