PHILADELPHIA - The University of Pennsylvania men's tennis team took both matches of their Friday double-header at Hecht Tennis Center. The Quakers defeated both Cleveland State and Liberty, 6-1,  to improve to 3-1 this season and 3-0 at home. 

How it Happened

Penn got the early jump in both matches in doubles. The Red and Blue took two of three doubles against Cleveland State and swept against Liberty to take the doubles point. The No. 56 doubles team in the ITA, Edoardo Graziani and Kevin Zhu played some of their most impressive doubles of the season. The duo won both matches by the score of 6-2.

Jason Hildenbrandt and Robert Smithline also went perfect in doubles while Kyle Mautner and Dmitry Shatalin were broken late against Cleveland State to lose, 7-5, but bounced back with a 6-1 victory against Liberty. 

In singles, the Quakers took all but three matches in straight sets. Graziani was dominant at the No. 2 spot as he didn't lose more than two games in a set, defeated Cleveland State 6-2, 6-2 and Liberty, 6-2, 6-1. Down early in his match against the Vikings, Zhu fought back to take his opening set 6-4 and then went on to win the second, 6-2 to win in straight sets. The freshman continued his solid play against Liberty, winning 6-1, 6-0. 

At Penn's top spot, No. 52 Kyle Mautner took down Cleveland State's, Nico Mostardi, who is ranked 113 by the ITA, in straight sets. The Penn senior recorded a straight-forward, 6-3, 6-3 win. Mautner continued against Liberty, winning 6-3, 6-0. 

Playing at the number six spot, freshman Jason Hildenbrandt took his solid play in doubles to the singles court. Hildenbrandt earned back-to-back straight set victories for the Quakers. 

After falling to Cleveland State in a tight three-setter, Noah Makarome bounced back with a 6-3, 6-3 win over Liberty. 

What's Next

The Quakers stay at home next week for a match against VCU on Saturday at 12 p.m.

Full Results

Penn 6, Cleveland State 1
Singles
1. #52 Kyle Mautner (PENN) d. #113 Nico Mostardi (CSU) – 6-3, 6-3
2. Edoardo Graziani (PENN) d. Matthew Terry (CSU) – 6-2, 6-2
3. Kevin Zhu (PENN) d. Luke Phillips (CSU) – 6-4, 6-2
4. Dmitry Shatalin (PENN) d. Raul Teichmann (CSU) – 6-2, 6-7, 1-0 (10-6)
5.  Clark Bilinovich (CSU) d. Noah Makarome (PENN) – 6-1, 2-6, 6-4
6. Jason Hildenbrandt (PENN) d. William Malm (CSU)  – 6-2, 6-4

Doubles
1. Mostardi/Slade (CSU) d. Mautner/Shatalin (PENN) – 7-5
2. #56 Graziani/Zhu (PENN) d. Terry/Teichmann (CSU) – 6-2
3. Smithline/Hildenbrandt (PENN) d. Phillips/Malm (CSU) – 6-4

Penn 6, Liberty 1
Singles
1. #52 Kyle Mautner (PENN) d. Nicaise Muamba (LU) – 6-3, 6-0
2. Edoardo Graziani (PENN) d. Eddie Gutierrez (LU) – 6-2, 6-1
3. Kevin Zhu (PENN) d. Ian Sturgill (LU) – 6-1, 6-0
4. Josh Wilson (LU) d. Dmitry Shatalin (PENN) – 3-6, 6-3, 1-0 (11-9)
5. Noah Makarome (PENN) d. Chase Burton (LU) – 6-3, 6-3
6. Jason Hildenbrandt (PENN) d. Steve Mundt (LU) – 6-4, 6-2

Doubles
1. Mautner/Shatalin (PENN) d.Muamba/Burton (LU) – 6-1
2. #56 Graziani/Zhu (PENN) d. Wilson/Mundt (LU) – 6-2
 3. Smithline/Hildenbrandt (PENN) d. Sturgill/Barker (LU) – 6-3