Chang victorious at Winter Classic

By SEAN SMITH
Collegian Sports Writer

Emotions ran high throughout the men's tennis meet yesterday. Most of the matches at the Penn State Winter Classic were close, but none could compare to the fire displayed in the last match of the day, which had Penn State sophomore Chris Chang facing off against Rutgers freshman Joe Howard.

Howard, who had already defeated Penn State sophomore Anthony Moran, quickly jumped in front of Chang in the class C singles final and looked strong. But Chang bounced back with tough play in the second set, eventually winning in a tie breaker.

Howard won the first game of the third set, and again Chang came back, this time winning the next three games. Then Howard and Chang each won on their serves, making the score 4-2 in favor of Chang.

According to the NCAA rules, the players judge whether an opposing player's hits are in or out. At a critical time in the match, Chang called a return shot from Howard wide.

Howard immediately disputed the call, saying the ball was "clearly on the line." He appealed to the umpire observing the match but was told it was Chang's call, to which Howard replied, "Well, what are you there for?"

After the match, Umpire Bob Berrettini explained the controversial ruling.

"The player must appeal verbally to me," he said. "(Howard) asked me to overrule, and I couldn't."

Berrettini said in order to overturn a ruling by a player, he must perceive a clear mistake in that ruling.

"From where I stand, I couldn't see -- no one can," he added.

After the ruling, Howard and Chang switched sides with Chang up 5-2 in the third set. However, Chang left his baseball hat on Howard's side. When Howard saw it, he smacked the hat away with his racket. Chang proceeded to win the next game and, with it, the match (4-6, 7-6, 6-2).

As Chang and Howard shook hands, words were exchanged and the two players were quickly told to separate by their respective coaches.

Penn State Coach Jan Bortner downplayed the confrontation after the meet, saying it was "nothing much -- just a disputed call."

While unimpressed with the squabble, Bortner was pleased with his players' efforts in the Classic, which was not a team event. Bortner cited junior Chris Cahill, who came back to defeat teammate Michael Carter in singles play.

"Cahill looked real good," Bortner said. "He's always been a good competitor, and now he's moving really well."

Also impressing Bortner was junior Eric Bocan, who won two singles matches, and the doubles team of junior Doug Schoenly and sophomore Anthony Moran. That duo made short work of the Scarlet Knights' Scott McGrath and Bobby Baron.

"Moran and Schoenly had a solid match in doubles," Bortner said. "Doug was attacking and really closing well."