The Nittany Lions will face off against the host and No. 3-seeded Minnesota Gophers at 3 p.m. today at the Baseline Tennis Center in second-round action.

"It was a big match for us, it was a confidence builder for our next match against Minnesota -- which is a huge one to say the least," junior Brad Hunter said. "I felt like we were strong today, not just like we got through it."

The Lions took care of business, winning the doubles point, putting them three singles matches away from advancing to the second round.

"We got one with the doubles point and then showed what we wanted to do during the regular season," junior Brad Hunter said about the Lions redeeming a 5-2 loss to the Hawkeyes earlier in the spring.

Then the Lions rattled off four singles victories, one more than the officials allow in tournament play. Usually the match is abandoned once one team claims victory with four points in the overall match.

In yesterday's win, however, the Lions had two matches finish very close to each other, yet it was not by coincidence.

With the Lions up 3-0, and freshman Adam Slagter about to finish off his opponent at No. 5 singles, he began to stall to allow his senior captain, Mark Barry, to finish his match at No. 1 singles. A victory for the No. 68-ranked Barry would help his chances of making his second-straight NCAA individual tournament appearance.

Slagter began taking extra time between points to tie his shoes, ask the officials about the balls that were being used and any number of other things to waste time, Hunter said.

"I wasn't watching him, but the last time I lost to the guy and this time I beat him," Barry said about Slagter giving him time to finish off Bart van Monsjou 6-2, 6-3. "I told him he didn't have to do that, but he wanted to."

Penn State coach Bill Potoczny said that he blames himself for letting the team know that Barry needed to win to have a chance at the tournament. Potoczny said it was hard to be mad at a player who had his heart in the right place and was trying to help out a teammate.

"I didn't like [the stalling], but it's one single time that I could live with it," Potoczny said.

Once Barry closed out his match, the officials let Slagter's match go one final point, allowing the Penn State freshman to get the 6-4, 6-4 win against Brett Taylor, giving the Lions a 5-0 win.

With the win the Lions set their sights on Minnesota and the NCAA team tournament.

"I don't think anyone wants the season to end," Potoczny said.

"I would be very surprised if a win [today] did not qualify us for NCAAs."