Men’s Tennis Blanks Wildcats in Fall Opener
ALTOONA, Pa. – The Penn State Altoona men's tennis team kicked off its four-date fall schedule with a home match Wednesday afternoon, when the Lions posted a 7-0 victory over non-conference opponent Penn College at the Adler Tennis Courts.
Penn State Altoona (1-0) made quick work of Penn College (0-1) in the match, sweeping doubles play before continuing its dominant performance with a clean sweep in singles.
At No. 1 doubles, Nick Beard (Manns Choice, PA/Bedford)/Gabriel Lopez (Wilmette, IL/New Trier Township) teamed up for a 6-0 win, and the duo of Jackson Newell (Leechburg, PA/Kiski Area)/Ivan Bene (York, PA/Lancaster Country Day) followed suit with a 6-0 victory in the No. 2 spot. Penn State Altoona picked up a forfeit win at No. 3 doubles, and the Lions carried a 1-0 lead into the singles portion of the match.
Penn State Altoona kept its momentum rolling in singles. Beard and Bene each had 6-0, 6-0 wins atop the lineup at the No. 1 and No. 2 spots, respectively, and Newell won 6-2, 6-0 at No. 3. Wilhelm Grot (Tyrone, PA/Tyrone) prevailed 6-0, 6-3 in the No. 4 singles match, and Emmett Hibbs (Richfield, PA/East Juniata) won 6-0, 6-1 in the No. 5 slot. The Lions got another forfeit win in the No. 6 singles match, clinching the seven-point victory over Penn College.
Bene's wins in doubles and singles were the first of his collegiate career.
Next up, Penn State Altoona men's tennis plays its lone road match of the fall this Sunday, September 7, which is also the team's Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference opener. The Lions make the short trip to Cresson, Pa. to face conference rival Mount Aloysius College for a 1 p.m. match.
