'M' tennis shells Penn State, 7-0

In its third match of the week, the Michigan tennis team started to tire, giving Penn State the perfect opportunity to come up with its first Big Ten win. But Penn State, after a near-upset of undefeated Illinois earlier in the season, was not able to outlast the Wolverines.

Michigan (6-0 Big Ten, 11-3 overall) blanked Penn State 7-0 yesterday at the Varsity Tennis Center, despite the fatigue.

LOUIS BROWN/Daily Brook Blain and the Michigan men's tennis team swept Penn State this weekend at the Varsity Tennis Center.

"When you throw that third match of the week in, all of a sudden people emotionally and physically get drained," Michigan coach Brian Eisner said. "When you get tired, you start losing concentration. And when you start losing concentration, you don't play the quality of points you want to."

Even with the fatigue factor, the Wolverines did not let up against the Nittany Lions, earning their second shutout of the season.

Michigan began the romp with a hard-fought point in doubles play.

The No. 1 doubles team of seniors Brook Blain and Arvid Swan easily defeated their opponents, Mike Griesser and Colin Smeeton, 8-2. The senior duo has won six straight and nine in all for the season.

No opponent in the past six matches has been able to break their serve.

"We've just been really consistent," said Blain. "We've won every point so far on our serve."

The No. 3 doubles team did not have as easy of a time. Senior Mike Pusztai and sophomore John Long, trailing the entire set, lost 4-8 to Matt Nielson and Marc McCallister. This doubles spot has played inconsistently all season for the Wolverines and Eisner has tried four different combinations at this spot and is considering another change.

"No. 3 has had some ups and downs," said Eisner. "We're going to have to take a look at that to see if that is the team that should be together. We've tried all different combinations and we still have not found the right solution."

The No. 2 doubles team of Jake Raiton and Matt Wright found the right solution. The duo battled back on more than one occasion and finally defeated their opponents Marc Dortman and Eric Meditz, 9-8 (7-4). Michigan's No. 2 duo has also won six straight matches.

LOUIS BROWN/Daily Michigan men's tennis player Matt Wright won his No. 2 singles match yesterday at the Varsity Tennis Center, defeating Penn State's Colin Smeeton, 7-6, 6-3.

The Wolverines showed fatigue throughout their singles play but nonetheless came up with all six victories, including five in straight sets.

Senior David Paradzik, Blain and Long all won easily, withoug having problems with their opponents.

Long got back on track after his first loss of the season against Michigan State on Wednesday by clobbering Marc McCallister 6-1, 6-3.

"When you play against guys like we have, playing the opponent is like a break," Long said.

Arvid Swan had a little bit more trouble against his opponent, Marc Dortman, but was still able to come up with the victory. He won the first set easily, 6-2, but struggled throughout the second, and found himself in a tiebreak.

Dortman "wasn't playing as well as he was capable of in the first set," Swan said. "Then he started to play better and I did not raise my level."

But Swan has played well all season in singles and he didn't let up, winning the second set tiebreaker and the match with a dominant finish.

"I'm trying to concentrate and I'm in better shape," Swan said. "Luckily, I won the match."

Swan earned his 11th straight victory and leads the team with a 27-9 record.

Matt Wright and Will Farah also struggled in their matches, but came back to earn victories.

"Matt was extremely exhausted and I saw that in Will Farah too." Eisner said.

04-13-98