Sunday's match against No. 39 Michigan will mark the final home appearance of the Penn State men's tennis team's top two performers, senior co-captains Mark Barry and Malcolm Scatliffe.

During the past three years either Barry or Scatliffe has occupied the No. 1 singles slot. Also, in their entire four-year careers, both have been mainstays in the lineup, and more importantly, go-to players for the Lions.

"After four years, you're around them so much and with them so much -- and it sounds corny to say, but you have a parental relationship [with them] as a coach," first-year head coach Bill Potoczny said about the relationship he has developed with his seniors. "More than anything, they should finish strong, as they should, on a positive note."

When they arrived as freshmen for the 2002-03 season, both brought national junior rankings of No. 19 and No. 44 for Scatliffe and Barry, respectively. The two contributed early, with Barry finishing the season at the No. 2 singles spot and Scatliffe taking up No. 3.

"I just remember the guys coming in as freshmen and not being the least bit intimidated by the older guys," Potoczny said. "They came in with an attitude -- not a reckless arrogance -- but very solid confidence in themselves. It's shown in each, when they have been in big matches and have come through."

It would not be long before they were the top players for Penn State.

With Barry destined to lead the team for years to come, it was Scatliffe who had a chance to shine at No. 1 singles first. Barry had to miss his sophomore spring season, but Scatliffe took that opportunity and earned a national ranking while knocking off some of the Big Ten's best players.

In the final home weekend of his sophomore season, Scatliffe put the team on his shoulders against the same opponents, Michigan and Michigan State, that he will take on in his last home matches this weekend.

"For me, I had a lot of matches come down to mine," Scatliffe said of being the deciding point in many of Penn State's close victories. "The Michigan and Michigan State matches my sophomore year both came down to me, and I won them both."

Coming up big has been a trait of both players' careers. Barry returned at No. 1 singles for his junior year, earning All-Big Ten honors and a spot in the NCAA Singles National Championships. During that season Barry also took the No. 1-ranked Ryler DeHeart from Illinois the distance -- a la Rocky Balboa's first match vs. Apollo Creed -- eventually losing 6-7, 6-4, 6-7.

In that season the two also posted an 18-7 doubles record while teaming together at the top doubles slot for the Lions.

Barry and Scatliffe will finish their final home match as the best one-two punch that Penn State has had in a long time, Potoczny said. And while they will end their successful collegiate careers together, coming in together and growing up together could best tell their stories.

"It's been great, we've been here for four years together," Barry said. "It helps having someone to share it with, and we've shared a lot during those years -- I couldn't imagine it with anyone else but Malcolm."

With their most important weekend of their season, and maybe careers, on tap, they can benefit from their supporters coming to see them out from Penn State. For Scatliffe, who will have his parents and sister present, it will be the first time his family has watched a home match since his freshman year.

With the typically small teams of collegiate men's tennis, the impact of a duo as successful as Barry and Scatliffe can be felt on the court, and throughout the Lions' lineup.

"They have been amazing teammates for three years," junior Ryan Berger said. "It's nice just having your two best friends always playing next to you for three years."