For a team with its back to the wall, leadership, intensity, toughness and the desire to win are necessities. No player on the No. 63 Penn State men's tennis team demonstrated these qualities better than senior Roddy Cantey.

This was senior weekend for the Lions, and Cantey, along with fellow seniors Clint Keithley and Todd Stecko, played for the last time at the Sarni Tennis Center. All three played a vital role in Saturday's win against Wisconsin. Then the seniors bid farewell to their playing days in Happy Valley yesterday, in a hard-fought loss to No. 42 Northwestern.

"I thought the weekend was great; we had a good turnout and good weather both days," Cantey said. "Win or lose, it's nice just to have a lot of people watching and supporting us."

The lasting image of the weekend was Cantey's ability to battle through pain, and set a tone for the Lions. Hampered all season by a torn meniscus, Cantey takes the court, with his right knee heavily wrapped then covered with a brace almost as large as a Barry Bonds elbow guard.

The injury, along with the equipment greatly hampers Cantey's mobility. Although this would keep many players on the bench, he competed in four matches over the weekend, playing at first doubles and second singles each day.

Paired with sophomore Malcolm Scatliffe in doubles, Cantey was able to implement his power game, and the duo won both matches over the weekend. However, the matches took a toll on Cantey's knee, which greatly affected his singles play.

"It's amazing how can even walk," Keithley said of his teammate. "I mean he has to wear that brace to even walk, and he's out there playing two-hour matches in doubles, then playing in the No. 2 singles. It says a lot about his character, you see how much the team means to him."

Cantey came out strong on Saturday, winning the first set against Wisconsin's Scott Green. The injury wore on Cantey, and he dropped a close second set.

Once he found out the Lions had won the overall match, Cantey withdrew from his match, in order to help the team yesterday.

Cantey and Scatliffe were spectacular once again yesterday, winning the only doubles match for the Lions. Cantey looked fresh, moving around the court well and driving huge serves. However, he may have exhausted what the knee could handle, leaping for shots and stretching out to lunge for balls.

In singles, Cantey started strong but was in obvious pain as he battle through a long first set against Northwestern's Christian Tempke.

During the second set, the pain and swelling was so bad Cantey could barley move, and serving became a problem, as he had to put more weight on the leg.

"The weekend was fun, and tough," Rod Cantey, Roddy's father, said. "We know he can play a lot better. He played real well in doubles and played hard in singles. We're proud of how tough he is."

The weekend left an impression of Cantey's toughness and competitive drive on his teammates, family and anyone in attendance.

The leadership and exercise he brings will be missed next season.

"As a captain, he loves the team," Young-boon, Cantey's mother said. "They have such a strong bond, and it is a wonderful group of kids."