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Messiah Rattles Off 3rd Straight With Blanking Of PSU-Harrisburg
Posted: 4/4/2008
Box Score | More Men's Tennis news
Junior Sam Shorts was a key component in Messiah's latest lopsided victory.

Middletown, PA — The Messiah College men’s tennis team captured its third consecutive win Thursday afternoon, handing Penn State University-Harrisburg a 9-0 blanking on the road.

Messiah (5-6-1, 2-0) again utilized spectacular play at all three doubles positions to generate the initial momentum, as the Falcons’ tandem of sophomore Luke Ruch and freshman Jansen Hein began the onslaught with an 8-0 decision at the number three flight. Seniors Nate Ispen and Jonathan Siemen followed with a comeback, 8-6 win in the top doubles slot, while junior Sam Shorts teamed with senior William Tanis for an identical win in the second doubles position.

With a 3-0 lead in hand, Messiah turned it on to an even greater degree in singles play, winning all but one match in straight sets. Siemen struggled only briefly with the Nittany Lions’ Keith Lynn at the number two singles position, eventually taking a 6-7 (7-4), 6-2, 10-7 marathon win.

“We are starting to play some pretty good tennis at a number of spots, and for the second consecutive match we got off to a fast start by winning all three doubles matches,” said Frank Petre, Messiah head coach. “Our number one doubles team of Ipsen and Siemen came back from a 2-5 deficit to win a hard fought, 8-6 victory, and that kind of spurned us on.”

Capping their performance from doubles’ competition, Hein claimed a 6-0, 6-1 win at the number three singles flight over PSU-Harrisburg’s Phil Tarkington in what Petre called “one of his most dominating matches of the season.” Ruch followed with a 6-1, 6-1 sweep of the Lions’ Denny Smith in the six position, while Ipsen made easy work of his opponent in a 6-2, 6-0 win at the top individual slot.

“Everyone came ready to play today,” Petre said. “Hein was very good in both doubles and singles play, while (junior) Sam Shorts had a very solid performance at the number four singles position in a 6-2, 6-1 win.”

Messiah will return to MAC Commonwealth Conference competition next, as the team will host Lycoming College Wednesday. Match time is set for 3:30 p.m.