Oct. 30, 2011
IOWA CITY, Iowa - The Penn State men's tennis team wrapped up play at the Big Ten Indoor Championships with three victories Sunday. Sophomore Russell Bader (Austin, Texas) highlighted the day's action by advancing to the main draw quarterfinals. Singles competition will conclude tomorrow at the Hawkeye Tennis and Recreation Complex with the semifinal and final rounds.
Bader began the day with a tough third-round match against Wisconsin's Alex Kostanov. The Texan battled to take the tie-breaker and, in turn, the first set, 7-6. He then overcame Kostanov in the second set, 6-4.
In the quarterfinals, Bader faced off against Stephen Hoh of Illinois. The match took a complete 180-degree turn from the third-round match as Bader fell to Hoh, 7-6, 6-4.
Two Nittany Lions faced off in the consolation bracket Sunday. Junior Bryan Welnetz (Laredo, Texas) advanced to the quarterfinals before falling to Minnesota's Leandro Toledo. Welnetz began the day by taking down Michigan State's Gijs Linders (6-4, 6-2). He then faced a tough test in the third round against Minnesota's Eric Frueh. The Texan needed a tie-breaker to take the first set, before earning an easy victory in the second set, 6-2. In the quarterfinals, Welnetz could not overcome Toledo, falling 6-3, 6-2.
Finally, freshman Tomas Hanzlik (Prague, Czech Republic) fell to Indiana's Dimitrije Tasic (6-2, 6-3) in his only consolation match of the weekend.
Penn State will return home until the spring season begins with a trip to Raleigh, N.C., Sunday, Jan. 22 against the N.C. State Wolfpack.
Singles:
Main Draw:
Round 3) Russell Bader (PSU) def. Alex Kostanov (WISC), 7-6, 6-4
Round 4) Stephen Hoh (Ill.) def. Russell Bader (PSU), 7-6, 6-4
Consolation Draw:
Round 1) Dimitrije Tasic (IND) def. Tomas Hanzlik (PSU), 6-2, 6-3
Round 2) Bryan Welnetz (PSU) def. Gijs Linders (MSU), 6-4, 6-2
Round 3) Bryan Welnetz (PSU) def. Eric Frueh (MINN), 7-6, 6-2
Round 4) Leandro Toledo (MINN) def. Bryan Welnetz (PSU), 6-3, 6-2