UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State men's tennis team (10-1) finished out their 11-match home stand with a 5-2 victory over St. John's (9-2) at the Penn State Indoor Tennis Center on Wednesday evening.
"Very rarely have we ever had a midweek match. So, this was something new for us especially against a team that's 9-1 from a power conference, the Big East," said head coach Jeff Zinn. "They played us well in doubles. That's one of the first individual matches that we've lost, but then guys at two and three came back. We go to play some players in positions that really hadn't played before, so that was good. Good win for Stefan to come back and I think Malik played really well. And our top guys played really well, like they have been all year. That was that was big for us. We've had a great home stand and now we go on the road against two quality opponents. I think we're ready for it. Should be two great matches this weekend."
DOUBLES
The Nittany Lions clinched the doubles point with wins on courts two and three.
Malik Bhatnagar and Charl Morgan dropped a 6-4 decision to Giseuppe De Camelis and Sergio Molina on No. 1.
On court three, Miko Eala and Stefan Simeunovic earned a victory and the doubles equalizer over Carl Gustafsson and Nishant Dabas, 6-4. Sam Bossem and Loren Byers finished out the doubles matches with a 6-4 win versus Ryota Kaneda and Adam Groves for their ninth straight doubles win.
SINGLES
Penn State took the first three courts to secure the match.
On No. 2, Byers won a 6-2, 6-2 contest over Molina, before Eala took down De Camelis, 6-0, 6-4 on court three. Morgan clinched it for the Nittany Lions in a 6-4, 6-2 decision across from the Red Storm's Carl Gustafsson.
Bhatnagar lost to Nishant Dabas 6-4, 1-6, 6-4 on court four, before Nemani was defeated by Adam Groves, 6-4, 6-1. Simeunovic finished out the match with a 2-6, 6-3, [10-8] third set super tie breaker to earn the Nittany Lion's fifth point and his fifth dual singles win.
RESULTS
Penn State 5, St. John's 2
Doubles Results
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Giuseppe De Camelis/Sergio Molina (SJU) def. Malik Bhatnagar/Charl Morgan (PSU) 6-4
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Sam Bossem/Loren Byers (PSU) def. Carl Gustafsson/Nishant Dabas (SJU) 6-4
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Miko Eala/Stefan Simeunovic (PSU) def. Ryota Kaneda/Adam Groves (SJU) 6-4
Order of finish: 1, 3, 2
Singles Results
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Charl Morgan (PSU) def. Carl Gustafsson (STJ) 6-4, 6-2
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Loren Byers (PSU) def. Sergio Molina (STJ) 6-2, 6-2
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Miko Eala (PSU) def. Guiseppe De Camelis (STJ) 6-0, 6-4
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Nishant Dabas (STJ) def. Malik Bhatnagar (PSU) 6-4, 1-6, 6-4
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Stefan Simeunovic (PSU) def. Ryan Kaneda (STJ) 2-6, 6-3, [10-8]
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Pranav Nemani (PSU) vs. Adam Groves (STJ) 6-4, 6-1
Order of finish: 2, 3, 1, 4, 6, 5
"Good win! St. John's is having a great season coming here with a lot of confidence with a 9-1 record," said associate head coach Paul Tobin. "We got off to a slow start in doubles but squeaked it out. We also started well in singles with wins from Loren, Miko, and Charl in straight sets. Now we have to focus on winning on the road, that will be the true test."
UP NEXT
The Nittany Lions will hit the road for the first time this season to take on the Liberty Flames on Friday, Feb. 24 at 5 p.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.