Northwestern
Penn State
Wildcats Pound Penn State, 6-1
4/18/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
April 18, 2004
STATE COLLEGE, Pa.--Happy Valley lived up to its name today--except in this case for Northwestern's 42nd-ranked men's tennis team.
With a 6-1 rout of Penn State, the Wildcats improved to 14-6 overall, including 5-3 in Big Ten action, to stay tied with Indiana for fourth in the conference standings.
"This was definitely the win we were looking for," said head coach Paul Torricelli. "We were leery coming in because of how well Penn State plays at home, but things turned out well for us."
NU took away any kind of home-court advantage by beginning the contest with wins at Nos. 2 and 3 doubles for the point. At the two spot, Tommy Hanus (Palatine, Ill./Palatine) and Christian Tempke (Wentorf, Germany/Gymnasium Lohbr?gge) breezed past Brad Hunter and Clint Keithley 8-3.
Also winning 8-3 was Adam Schaechterle (Oconomowoc, Wis./Kettle Moraine) and Matt Christian (Troy, Mich./Brother Rice), who topped Aaron Ellis and James Crowell at No. 3.
After Penn State (12-8, 3-5) tied the score at 1-1, the 'Cats took the remaining five matches, starting with Tempke's easy 6-1, 6-0 decision over Roddy Cantey at No. 2. Chuck Perrin (Atlanta, Ga./The Walker School) then followed by disposing of Clint Keithley 6-1, 6-4 at No. 3.
Christian turned out to have the clinching match; he defeated Ryan Berger 6-2, 6-2 at No. 5 for his 15th win of the year.
The final two points were claimed by Schaechterle and Willy Lock (Lima, Peru/Markham College), who won 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 at No. 6 and 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 at No. 3, respectively.
"The fast start in doubles really helped us," said Torricelli. "We were then able to put the Lions away fairly quickly."
The Wildcats will return home this weekend for their final two matches, playing host to Michigan and Michigan State at Vandy Christie Tennis Center.
No. 42 Northwestern 6, Penn State 1
Singles
No. 1 -- Malcolm Scatliffe (PSU) def. Tommy Hanus (NU), 6-1, 3-0, ret. def.
No. 2 -- Christian Tempke (NU) def. Roddy Cantey (PSU), 6-1, 6-0
No. 3 -- Chuck Perrin (NU) def. Clint Keithley (PSU), 6-1, 6-4
No. 4 -- Willy Lock (NU) def. Todd Stecko (PSU), 4-6, 6-2, 6-1
No. 5 -- Matt Christian (NU) def. Ryan Berger (PSU), 6-2, 6-2
No. 6 -- Adam Schaechterle (NU) def. Brad Hunter (PSU), 6-3, 3-6, 6-4
Doubles
No. 1 -- Scatliffe/Cantey (PSU) def. Perrin/Justin Hoeveler (NU), 9-8 (8-6)
No. 2 -- Hanus/Tempke (NU) def. Hunter/Keithley (PSU), 8-3
No. 3 -- Schaechterle/Christian (NU) def. Aaron Ellis/James Crowell (PSU), 8-3
Players Mentioned
