Netmen missing ace for tourney

By STEVE FEITL
Collegian Sports Writer

With its top player out of the lineup, the men's tennis team's success in this weekend's Penn State Winter Classic will depend on how the younger players on the team adjust to competition.

The tournament starts at 8 a.m. tomorrow and continues Sunday at the Penn State Tennis Club. The Lions will host Bloomsburg, Cornell, Rutgers and Toledo.

Senior Ivan Spinner, still recovering from a stomach virus, will be out for the second straight week, but is expected to return to the lineup next weekend. In his absence, each of the Lions will move up one spot.

"It's a good opportunity for all the young players," freshman Dale Cathell said. "We're going to be able to play the good players and upperclassmen from some of the other colleges."

The experience gained in this kind of tournament will have an impact on the rest of the season, Coach Jan Bortner said.

"It's one of those tournaments where your players will face a lot of competition," Bortner added. "I think how the freshmen adjust to the Big Ten and that level of competition will have a big impact on the kind of season we have."

One of the problems that has plagued the Lions thus far has been the play of their doubles teams. Bortner said that has been the team's main emphasis in practice.

"I'm a little concerned with our doubles right now," he added. "We're trying a lot of different combinations. In doubles, you try to come up with the right chemistry -- which of your players do best together."

The doubles problem is one which Penn State will work on this weekend.

"With this particular tournament, there's really nothing on the line," Bortner said. "We are just trying to get experience for the players, so we'll try some different combos. I think we'll probably match some freshmen up together and see how they react to the situation."

Overall, the team is confident after strong showings the past two weeks at the Big Ten Singles Championship and the Princeton Invitational, and expects its success to continue.

"I think our team as a whole is playing well," freshman Colin Smeeton said. "I think we should do real well, if not win the whole thing."