UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State men's tennis team (10-10, 2-3 B1G) dropped a home match to the No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes (20-2, 5-0 B1G) at the Penn State Indoor Tennis Center on Saturday afternoon.
"Ohio State was as good as advertised in coming here and being the No. 2 team in the country," said head coach Jeff Zinn. "They competed extremely well. I thought that this was the best doubles we've played all year. We played loose, we played free. We played to our potential, and hopefully, we can carry that momentum into our upcoming matches. I felt that we had chances in each of the four singles matches that were out on the court first. Against a team as good as Ohio State, you have to execute when they give you those chances. Unfortunately, we didn't. Miko Eala played an excellent second set. Bora played a great second set, as well, he gave himself chances. Sam Bossem played really well at No. 4. So, we have things that we can pull from this match, especially against a team of this caliber, that we can take forward."
"There are very few teams out there that have the kind of intensity and talent depth that Ohio State has shown this year, and years past," said associate head coach Paul Tobin. "Our doubles was probably the best we've played this year, coming incredibly close to a major upset. I certainly could not have asked for anything more. In singles, we were just outhit on closing shots. I think if we played outside their shots would not have had as much pace and depth."
DOUBLES
Ohio State took the doubles point with wins on courts one and three. The Nittany Lions put up a fight but were ultimately unable to defeat the Buckeyes.
On court one, Malik Bhatnagar and Charl Morgan faced off against the No. 1 doubles pairing in the nation, Matej Vocel and Robert Cash. Bhatnagar and Morgan fell in a close 7-5 decision to the ranked duo. At No. 3, Sam Bossem and Loren Byers lost to Ohio State's Andrew Lutschaunig and James Trotter in another 7-5 result.
At No. 2, Miko Eala and Bora Sengul were playing a 6-6 tiebreaker across from Cannon Kinglsey and JJ Tracey when the Buckeyes clinched the point. The match was left unfinished.
SINGLES
The Buckeyes carried their momentum into singles play, earning a sweep over the Nittany Lions.
Ohio State extended its lead to 2-0 when Vocel defeated Bhatnagar in a 6-2, 6-2 decision. Clinching the match on court one, Kingsley secured the win for the Buckeyes over Eala, 6-1, 7-5.
RESULTS
Ohio State 4, Penn State 0
Doubles Results
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#1 Matej Vocel/Robert Cash (OSU) def. Malik Bhatnagar/Charl Morgan (PSU) 7-5
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Miko Eala/Bora Sengul (PSU) vs. Cannon Kingsley/JJ Tracy (OSU) 6-6, unfinished
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Andrew Lutschaunig/James Trotter (OSU) def. Loren Byers/Sam Bossem (PSU) 7-5
Order of finish: 1, 3
Singles Results
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#12 Cannon Kingsley (OSU) def. Miko Eala (PSU) 6-1, 7-5
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#9 Matej Vocel (OSU) def. Malik Bhatnagar (PSU) 6-2, 6-2
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#20 JJ Tracy (OSU) def. Bora Sengul (PSU) 6-1, 6-4
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Sam Bossem (PSU) vs. #106 Jake Van Emburgh (OSU) 3-6, 3-4, unfinished
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Charl Morgan (PSU) vs. #115 Robert Cash (OSU) no result
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Loren Byers (PSU) vs. #42 James Trotter (OSU) no result
Order of finish: 2, 3, 1
UP NEXT
The Nittany Lions will travel to Loretto, PA to take on the Saint Francis Red Flash on Sunday, April 10 at 10 a.m. 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.