JMU Suffers 7-0 Setback at No. 47 Penn State

Saturday, February 13

State College, Pa.

4 p.m.

James Madison University

Penn State

2/13/2016 9:10:00 PM | Men's Tennis

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. – James Madison men's tennis suffered a 7-0 setback at No. 47 Penn State on Saturday as the Dukes dropped to 1-2 (1-0 CAA) on the year. The Nittany Lions improved to 6-0 in spring duals.

After taking the doubles point 3-0, Penn State earned victories at all six singles positions to claim the team win.

Senior Robert Stirling battled Constant De La Bassetiere through two sets at No. 2 singles, falling in a tiebreaker in the first set at 7-6 (8-6) before dropping a 6-3 second set to give the Nittany Lions a 5-0 lead.

In doubles, Stirling and freshman Tristan Stitt tallied their first loss of the dual season in a 6-3 decision that favored David Kohan and Christian Lutschaunig at the No. 1 position. Juniors Maxi Branth and Brett Moorhead also took their first loss of the spring, falling 6-1 to Roman Trkulja and Matt Galush at No. 3 doubles.

Moorhead also lost his first singles match of the spring in a two-set (6-0, 6-3) decision to Aws Laaribi at the No. 3 position. Junior Sebastian Salinas fell to 2-1 in spring duals at No. 1 singles after a two-set loss (6-3, 6-2) to Leo Stakhovsky.

JMU returns to action on Friday, Feb. 19 at Hampton with a 6 p.m. match.

QUOTING HEAD COACH STEVE SECORD
"Penn State is a very solid team likely to move even higher in the rankings. We saw we still have work to do in doubles and, though singles was a bit better, we need to capitalize on opportunities and not have them slip by. We are looking forward to competing again next weekend and back in the win column."

FULL RESULTS
Doubles (2, 3*, 1)
1. David Kohan/Christian Lutschaunig (PSU) def. Stirling/Stitt (JMU), 6-3.
2. Leo Stakhovsky/Matt Barry (PSU) def. Ruzic/Salinas (JMU), 6-0.
3. Roman Trkulja/Matt Galush (PSU) def. Branth/Moorhead (JMU), 6-1.
Singles (3, 4, 1*, 2, 5, 6)
1. Leo Stakhovsky (PSU) def. Sebastian Salinas (JMU), 6-3, 6-2.
2. Constant De La Bassetiere (PSU) def. Robert Stirling (JMU), 7-6 (8-6), 6-3.
3. Aws Laaribi (PSU) def. Brett Moorhead (JMU), 6-0, 6-3.
4. Matt Barry (PSU) def. Tristan Stitt (JMU), 6-0, 6-4.
5. Tomas Hanzlik (PSU) def. Maxi Branth (JMU), 6-3, 6-3.
6. Ben Lieb (PSU) def. Miljan Ruzic (JMU), 6-3, 6-3.

UP NEXT
The Dukes head to the eastern part of the Commonwealth for a pair of matches next weekend. JMU travels to Hampton on Friday, Feb. 19 for a 6 p.m. contest before heading to Norfolk State on Saturday, Feb. 20 for a 3 p.m. contest.