Monday, March 31, 1997

Momentum carries netmen over two Big Ten opponents

By CHAD WASHINGTON
Collegian Sports Writer

In the sports world, momentum is key for a team to have and to hold. For the Penn State men's tennis team, it was very much needed.

Penn State's Michael Carter, the Lions' No. 1 singles player, hits a backhand shot during his match against Iowa on Saturday. Penn State defeated Minnesota and Iowa this weekend. (Collegian Photo / Timothy Gyves - click for full size image)

After coming from behind to defeat Minnesota on Saturday, the Nittany Lions evened their Big Ten record at 2-2 on the season (8-5 overall) by defeating Iowa yesterday. Penn State coach Jan Bortner credited the wins at the Penn State Tennis Center to one big letter: a capital M.

"We got some momentum, and we played inspired tennis," Bortner said. "After that, things just snowballed."

Things did not look good for Penn State in Saturday's meet against the Gophers. After being demolished in doubles play and trailing big in almost every singles match, rain forced the rest of the matches to be played in the indoor complex.

Penn State used the new surroundings to its advantage, as senior Michael Carter, junior Colin Smeeton and sophomore Mike Griesser rallied to victories in singles play to give the Lions the 4-3 win.

"When I saw that everyone was losing, I knew that I had to win may match fast," Smeeton said about his 6-5, 6-4 win over Adam Selkirk. "After that, I could see a change in the way everyone was playing."

Carter, an All-Big Ten selection last year, had to battle to the wire to win his match against another All-Big Ten player, Ben Gabler. After dropping the first set, 6-3, Carter pulled out an emotional 7-6 win in the second set and put Gabler away with a 6-4 win.

"I started to pick up his serve," Carter said. "Once I got the serve, I got back into the match."

Freshman Marc Dorfman also won his singles match to give Penn State the deciding factor and its first-ever win against Minnesota.

The momentum kept swinging for the Lions the next day, as they demolished an overmatched Iowa squad, 7-0. Every match went Penn State's way, including a better performance in doubles. Carter and Smeeton won their doubles match, 8-3, against Tom Derouin and Ulf Jeltler, while Griesser and sophomore Lee Hecht won their match, 8-4.

"We came out determined. We were ready to play doubles," Bortner said about the change of play from the previous day. "We wanted to sweep today."

The Lions look to keep the momentum going as they wrap up their homestand against Duquesne on Wednesday before heading to Illinois, Purdue and Princeton. Penn State assistant coach Doug Schoenly hopes the Lions pack the momentum they worked so hard to get in their suitcases.

"The whole Big Ten is good," Schoenly said. "Hopefully, this can carry over. They know what they have to do to win."