Netmen to measure program against Hoosiers'

By STEVE FEITL
Collegian Sports Writer

Indiana has tradition, coaching, facilities and money -- things Lion Coach Jan Bortner said are key ingredients for a top men's tennis program.

Penn State (7-2) will see how its program matches up with the Hoosiers' at 1 p.m. on Sunday at the Penn State Tennis Club after the Lions host Pittsburgh at 1:30 p.m. tommorow.

Bortner said the Indiana match will be especially important since it will be an opportunity for Penn State to get its first conference win. The Lions lost their only other Big Ten match -- 6-1 to Ohio State -- on March 4.

"We didn't play particularly well that day," senior Brett Englesberg said. "We've had a lot of good out-of-conference wins, but now we need one in the conference. We're all looking forward to it."

The Ohio State match was the only poor match Penn State played all season, Bortner said. The Lions' only other loss came in the fall against Princeton, where Bortner said the team played well.

In preparation for this weekend, the Lions have been trying to improve on problems they had against the Buckeyes, such as aggressiveness.

The Lions' work was evident in Wednesday's 7-0 victory over Robert Morris, which Bortner said was an important warm-up for this weekend.

"Our guys know that we have to fine-tune things for that match on Sunday," he added. "I'd be surprised if we don't play a much better match against Indiana (than Ohio State)."

Tomorrow's match against Pitt is also important for Penn State. Bortner said the Lions have matched up well against the Panthers' lineup in the past.

"We're deeper, but their top three players can play with anyone," Bortner said. "So we'll have to make sure our guys are not looking past that match."