It can't get much closer than this.

For Penn State men's tennis captain Mark Barry, a near three-hour match in the first round of the Intercollegiate Tennis Association National Indoor Championship came about as close as it possibly could.

Barry dropped a 6-7, 7-6, 7-6 (5), three-set decision to Miami's (Fla.) Luigi D'Agord in his first match of the national tournament in Columbus, Ohio.

"Really it all came down to one point," said Barry, who had a match point opportunity in the second set. "If I would have won, then there is no third set, and it isn't as close, but then in the tiebreak he held his serves a few times when I had match point -- it's a tough loss."

The match was a close one. And despite being quite long, it did not reach a marathon-like standard because of the quick surface of the courts, according to interim head coach Bill Potoczny.

He said that since the courts were faster, players were able to hold their serves quickly, which kept the matches from dragging on.

Now Barry will face off against Rylan Rizza from Virginia in the consolation round tomorrow. The back bracket will give the Nittany Lions' captain a chance to further his experience against the nation's top players -- something there will be no shortage of come this spring.

"Mark knows he can beat these guys, now it's just a matter of actually doing it." Potoczny said.

"There's no moral victory coming away from these guys with a loss."

His match with Rizza could be Barry's last preparation against top players until the spring, when the Lions No. 1 singles player will see his fair share of top opponents.

"I know I'm here with top guys in the nation it's all building my confidence," Barry said.