Michigan State University
Penn St
Men's Tennis Upset By Penn State, 4-3
4/8/2002 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
April 8, 2002
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. - The No. 66 Michigan State men's tennis team was defeated by Penn State Sunday, April 7, 4-3. Junior Goran Topalo's (Prague, Czech Rep.) impressive effort was not enough to capture the squad's second Big Ten win of the season.
Remembering last year's 4-3 loss to the Spartans (13-9 overall, 1-6 Big Ten) where the doubles point was the deciding factor, the Nittany Lions (8-10, 1-5) took control early, winning two of three doubles matches for the 1-0 lead. The No. 3 doubles team of Topalo and sophomore Mike Jonckheere (London, Ont.) picked up their sixth win at the position, defeating PSU 8-5.
But Penn State was able to split the singles matches and earn the 4-3 victory. Topalo's match at No. 3 singles went down to the wire with seven breaks in the third set. Suffering from a possible pulled quadricep, a slightly sprained ankle and severe leg cramps, he fought off six match points but could not break Matt Frakes serve and fell, 3-6, 6-4, 7-5. Junior Jimmy McGuire (Columbus, Ohio) and freshmen Andrew Formanczyk (Rochester Hills, Mich.) and Cameron Marshall (Louisville, Ky.) picked up points for the Spartans, but it was not enough for the win.
The Spartans return home for their last home match of the season when they take on Iowa Saturday, April 13. The match is scheduled for noon at the MSU outdoor courts located south of the Duffy Daugherty football building. If the weather is uncooperative, it will be moved to the indoor facility on Mt. Hope Road.
Sunday's Results Against Penn StateDoublesNo. 1 Keithley/Gresh (PSU) def. Hourani/McGuire (MSU) 8-4No. 2 Frakes/Nudell (PSU) def. Formanczyk/Simonton (MSU) 8-5No. 3 Jonckheere/Topalo (MSU) def. Cantey/Anderson (PSU) 8-5
SinglesNo. 1 Jamie Gresh (PSU) def. Chris Mitchell (MSU) 6-1, 6-1No. 2 Andrew Formanczyk (MSU) def. Brad Nudell (PSU) 6-2, 6-1No. 3 Matt Frakes (PSU) def. Goran Topalo (MSU) 3-6, 6-4, 7-5No. 4 Jimmy McGuire (MSU) def. Roddy Cantey (PSU) 6-2, 6-1No. 5 Clint Keithley (PSU) def. Eric Simonton (MSU) 6-3, 6-2No. 6 Cameron Marshall (MSU) def. Matt Rose (PSU) 6-2, 6-0
Penn State defeats No. 66 Michigan State, 4-3.
