UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Sophomore Matias Oliver delivered the match point in a nail-biting three-set final to propel the Toledo men's tennis team to victory over Penn State, 4-3 on Friday night. The Rockets' win is the first over the Nittany Lions, and first over a Big Ten team since defeating Purdue (5-2) last season.Â
"We thought this would be a close match and as it turns out, it was a six-hour classic," head coach
Al Wermer said. "This is our second Power-5 win in about twelve months. We still have a whole lot of work to do this year, but this is a nice highlight for today."
For the third time this season, the final match came down to sophomore
Matias Olivero at the No. 6 court. Olivero won the first set, lost the second set to Alexander Sterin, and went back and forth in the third set to put it away with a 7-6(7) final to clinch the match for UT.
"Matias was absolutely stunning in his three-set win," Wermer added. "Another full team victory. His teammates willed him to the finish line amid a deep deficit with both players battling cramps."
Senior
Pawit Sornlaksup rebounded with a two-set win from the top court, after breaking his 45-match winning streak on Wednesday at Ohio State, while junior
Hanamichi Carvajal tied the match at 3-3 with his victory at the No. 5 court.
Toledo won the No. 1 and No. 3 doubles courts to take a 1-0 match lead into singles play.
Friday's match was the first between UT and Penn State since 2006.Â
Toledo (3-3) will be back in the Sarni Tennis Center to take on Temple (1-1) tomorrow at 1:00 p.m.
Toledo 4, Penn State 3
Singles
1.
Pawit Sornlaksup (TOL) def. Loren Byers (PSU) 6-4, 7-6(3)
2. Eala Miko (PSU) def.
Marko Galic (TOL) 6-1, 6-1
3. Stefan Simeunovic (PSU) def.
Cole Cozens (TOL) 6(3)-7, 6-4, 7-5
4. Jack Martuccio (PSU) def.
Charlie Snow (TOL) 6-4, 6-1
5.
Hanamichi Carvajal (TOL) def. Nolan Ranger (PSU) 6-2, 6-4
6.
Matias Olivero (TOL) def. Alexander Sterin (PSU) 7-6, 3-6, 7-6(7)
Doubles
1.
Poonthong Komolpisut/
Pawit Sornlaksup (TOL) def. Jack Martuccio/ Alexander Sterin (PSU) 6-0
2. Miko Eala/ Stefan Simeunovic (PSU) def.
Matias Olivero/
Charlie Snow (TOL) 6-0
3.
Hanamichi Carvajal/
Marko Galic (TOL) def. Loren Byers/ Nolan Ranger (PSU) 6-4
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