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Sports
[ Friday, March 19, 1999 ]

Netmen to face Saints

By BRAD STRATTON
Collegian Staff Writer

The Penn State men's tennis team will play musical chairs this weekend in back-to-back matches against two struggling teams.

The Nittany Lions (7-3, 1-0 Big Ten) will sit their No. 1 singles player when they face St. Bovaventure at 2 p.m. and St. Francis (Pa.) at 6:30 p.m. Sunday. Both matches are scheduled for the Penn State Tennis Center, unless weather allows them to move outdoors to the new Sarni Tennis Center. The St. Francis match was rescheduled after last Sunday's snowstorm forced the teams to cancel their March 14 match.

Due to an NCAA rule regulating the number of dates on which any one player can compete, senior Mike Griesser will sit this weekend and be replaced at No. 1 singles by junior Marc Dorfman, who has lost four straight singles matches at No. 2.

"Dorfman will be at No. 1," Penn State coach Jan Bortner said. "And some of the other starters will move higher up in the lineup. We'll also get some guys like Matthew Nielsen and Chris DeStefano in there, get them some match experience."

St. Bonaventure (1-7, 0-3 Atlantic 10) comes in riding a four-match losing streak, most recently getting swept by Dayton. The Bonnies will sport Markus Arvaja, their No. 1 singles player from Finland.

"Arvaja's a tough worker," St. Bovaventure coach Michael Bates said. "He works hard for every point. We look forward to playing Penn State. It'll be tough competition, because they're one of the top teams in the region. We'll use this match as a gauge and to help prepare for the Atlantic 10 Championships."

St. Francis (Pa.) looks to rebound against the Lions after dropping seven straight matches going into yesterday's match versus Maryland Baltimore County. The Red Flash (3-7, 0-4 NEC) began their season with three victories, including two against Canisius. They will travel to Happy Valley Sunday immediately after their third match of the season versus Canisius.

Despite the favorable odds, Bortner is wary of checking a "W" next to these two matches.

"These teams have been struggling," Bortner said. "St. Bonaventure has had some tough luck up there with injuries, and St. Francis is gonna be hungry. But tennis is a tough sport. If one guy is sick, hurt, or just can't play, the whole lineup changes. You lose one guy, you can be in big trouble. It's a whole new ballgame. This will be a challenge."

One person expected to be an important part of the team this weekend will be freshman Jamie Gresh. Gresh has been hot lately, winning three straight matches to post a 14-7 mark at No. 5 singles. Included in those victories was the clinching match for the Lions against Florida Atlantic during their spring trip.

"We had a good time in Florida," Gresh said. "The teams were tough, but we're looking good. I've felt really comfortable outdoors, and hopefully I can carry that momentum."




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Updated: Thursday, March 18, 1999  11:13:30 PM  -4
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