Tulsa, Okla. -- Five Nittany Lions competed on the opening day of the 2022 ITA All-American Championships held in the Michael D. Case Tennis center at the University of Tulsa on Saturday morning.
Graduate student Malik Bhatnagar, senior Charl Morgan, juniors Miko Eala and Sam Bossem, and sophomore Loren Byers all saw action on Saturday.
Opening up play against Troy University's Noah Martens, Bhatnagar dropped the match 6-4, 6-4.
Fellow Nittany Lion Charl Morgan earned a victory in both sets, first defeating Texas Tech's Piotr Pawlak, 6-3, 6-0, before besting Antonio Muniz-Hildago from SMU, 7-5, 7-6 (2). He continues pre-qualifying play against Oklahoma State's Alejandro Garcia on Sunday.
In Penn State's other matches, Miko Eala fell to Trice Pickens from Northwestern in three sets, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3. Sam Bossem was bested, 6-2, 6-3, by Kennesaw State's Raul Garcia.
Bhatnagar, Eala, and Bossem will have one final match on Sunday in the consolation round. Penn State's opponents for those rounds have not been released.
Rounding out the Nittany Lion's first day of play, Loren Byers beat Illinois State's Melker Isaksson, 6-3, 6-3. He moved on to face Leighton Allen from Oklahoma State, where he earned another victory in a 6-4, 6-4 contest. Byers advances to the next round of pre-qualifying competition where he will take on Mississippi State's Carlos Hernandez.
SINGLES
Prequalifying Opening Round
Noah Martens (TU) def. Malik Bhatnagar (PSU) 6-4, 6-4
Charl Morgan (PSU) def. Piotr Pawlak (TTU) 6-3, 6-0
Charl Morgan (PSU) def. Antonio Muniz-Hildago (SMU) 7-5, 7-6 (2)
Trice Pickens (NU) def. Miko Eala (PSU) 6-1, 3-6, 6-3
Raul Garcia (KSU) def. Sam Bossem (PSU) 6-2, 6-3
Loren Byers (PSU) def. Melker Isaksson (ISU) 6-3, 6-3
Loren Byers (PSU) def. Leighton Allen (OSU) 6-4, 6-4
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