Michigan State University
Penn St
Penn State Squeaks By Men's Tennis, 4-3
3/28/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
March 28, 2004
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. - The No. 44 Michigan State men's tennis team suffered a 4-3 loss at No. 56 Penn State Sunday, March 28 to end a weekend that was eerily similar to the last time MSU traveled to Columbus, Ohio, and State College, Pa., two years ago. The Spartans fell to 13-7 and 0-2 in the Big Ten while the Nittany Lions improved to 11-4, 2-1 in conference play.
In 2002, MSU dropped a 7-0 decision to the Buckeyes in an indoor match and then lost to the Nittany Lions, 4-3, in an outdoor environment. This year, the Spartans fell to Ohio State, 6-1, Saturday, March 27 in a match played indoors and then were forced to play outside against Penn State the following day. Once again the match vs. PSU came to a dramatic conclusion with the Green and White losing the final singles match to give the Nittany Lions the victory.
"Today was a tough loss," said head coach Gene Orlando. "We have to be positive because we still have a lot more tennis to play. We now have to look forward to our rival in Michigan on Wednesday."
For the second consecutive day, the Spartans earned one win at doubles against Penn State but dropped two to fall behind in the match, 1-0. Senior Chris Mitchell (Ann Arbor, Mich.) and junior Andrew Formanczyk (Rochester Hills, Mich.) topped Roddy Cantey and Malcolm Scatliffe at No. 1, 9-8(3) for the State win, which improved the duo's record to 18-9 on the season and 13-4 for the spring.
The Spartans fell behind 2-0 when Bradley Hunter defeated junior Anthony Stefani (Grosse Pointe Shores, Mich.) at No. 6, 6-2, 6-4, but MSU came charging back. Junior Cameron Marshall (Louisville, Ky.) ended a six-match losing streak with a big win at No. 2, cruising past Cantey, 6-1, 6-4, and then Mitchell eased by Clint Keithly at No. 3, 7-5, 6-4.
Senior Eric Simonton (Annandale, N.J.) almost gave MSU the lead at No. 4 only to see Todd Stecko hold on for a hard-earned two-set win, 6-4, 7-5. The Spartans would even things back up with a come-from-behind victory from freshman Joseph McWilliams (Aurora, Ill.) at No. 5 over Ryan Berger, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2.
The final point rested at No. 1 where Formanczyk battled Scatliffe. Unfortunately for Formanczyk, Scatliffe wanted revenge after losing to the Spartan junior in doubles and opening up the singles match by taking the first set, 6-1. Formanczyk replied with a 6-4 second set win but came up short in the third, falling, 6-4, as Penn State locked up the overall victory.
Michigan State remains on the road with a trip to Ann Arbor and a meeting with Michigan in the schools' annual weeknight match-up. The indoor battle is scheduled for Wednesday, March 31, at 6 p.m.
Sunday's Results Against Penn StateDoublesNo. 1 Formanczyk/Mitchell (MSU) def. Cantey/Scatliffe (PSU) 9-8(3)No. 2 Hunter/Keithly (PSU) def. Marshall/Simonton (MSU) 8-5No. 3 Berger/Ellis (PSU) def. Brown/Stefani (MSU) 8-6SinglesNo. 1 Malcolm Scatliffe (PSU) def. #100 Andrew Formanczyk (MSU) 6-1, 4-6, 6-4No. 2 Cameron Marshall (MSU) def. Roddy Cantey (PSU) 6-1, 6-4No. 3 Chris Mitchell (MSU) def. Clint Keithley (PSU) 7-5, 6-4No. 4 Todd Stecko (PSU) def. Eric Simonton (MSU) 6-4, 7-5No. 5 Joseph McWilliams (MSU) def. Ryan Berger (PSU) 3-6, 6-3, 6-2No. 6 Bradley Hunter (PSU) def. Anthony Stefani (MSU) 6-2, 6-4No. 56 Penn State defeats No. 44 Michigan State, 4-3Records: MSU 13-7 overall, 0-2 Big Ten PSU 11-4 overall, 2-1 Big TenOrder of Finish: Doubles 2, 3, 1 Singles 6, 2, 3, 4, 5, 1Length of Match: 3:45Weather: 61 degrees with Fair Skies and a 3 mph wind
Players Mentioned
