Middletown Pa. - The Penn State Harrisburg Men's Tennis team started off on top today against the visiting Rutgers Camden Scarlot Raptors by winning 2 of the 3 doubles matches. Unfortunately, the singles matches went in favor of Rutgers as they narrowly edged out the Lions 5-4 in a thriller that may be have been a preview to the two teams we will see in the conference final.
Today's match had the feeling of a long time rivalry even though it is the first time Rutgers-Camden and Penn State Harrisburg have meant in conference play. As the Scarlot Raptors got off the bus, the tensions rose a bit just as the teams crossed paths prior to warmups.
As the doubles match started, the Blue and White took some of Rutgers early swagger away winning # 1 & #3 Doubles. Our #2 Doubles of Vincent Lepore III (Chepachet, R.I. / Ponaganset)/ Zachry Warriner (Montrose, Pa. / Montrose) were down 6-3, before turning the tide completely in the Lions favor by winning 4 straight games and then setting up two match points that Rutgers was able to fight off to force extra games. Eventually the battle was decided in a tiebreaker that the visitors would win and gain a little momentum back.
The Singles matches were extremely exciting and got really intense. There were a few times when verbal challenges over calls or play led to some louder than proper court speaking level; which caught most of the fans attention coming from a variety of the courts. This was highlighted in #3 singles, with the Lions needing to win two out of the three remaining sets going on; Tyler Miller (Mechanicsburg, Pa. / Mechanicsburg) battled his opponent to an exciting three set winner. The excitement from the crowd quickly switched to eyes being wide open wide after the Rutgers players racket went flying over the coaches and the net into the other court after the final point.
Unfortunately the margin of error between these two teams was very tight, but today went in favor of the visitors as they took down an exciting 5-4 win. Harrisburg doesn't get any time to dwell on the loss as they host Penn State Abington Sunday at noon.
Singles competition
1. Ryan Airo (RUTM1213) def. Joshua Cartmill (PSHM1213) 2-6, 6-3, 6-1
2. Aaron Hartman (RUTM1213) def. Evgeny Matigullin (PSHM1213) 6-1, 6-1
3. Tyler Miller (PSHM1213) def. Adil Ismaaeel (RUTM1213) 6-4, 2-6, 6-4
4. Terry Long (RUTM1213) def. Ben Leibig (PSHM1213) 5-7, 6-1, 6-2
5. Ken Stubblefield (RUTM1213) def. Vincent Lepore III (PSHM1213) 6-3, 6-1
6. Alex Koltun (PSHM1213) def. Mitch Lacsamana (RUTM1213) 6-3, 3-6, 10-3
Doubles competition
1. Joshua Cartmill/Tyler Miller (PSHM1213) def. Ryan Airo/Aaron Hartman (RUTM1213) 8-2
2. Ken Stubblefield/Terry Long (RUTM1213) def. Zachry Warriner/Vincent Lepore III (PSHM1213) 9-8
3. Ben Leibig/Alex Koltun (PSHM1213) def. Adil Ismaaeel/Mitch Lacsamana (RUTM1213) 8-3