PHILADELPHIA – The University of Pennsylvania men's tennis team jumps into Ivy League play on Saturday when it travels to Princeton (1 p.m.). The Quakers have enjoyed a successful spring that saw them win the ECAC Championship and rise to No. 23 in the rankings. Penn will look to keep it going as it strives for its first Ivy League title since 2007.
Previewing Penn
Penn is undefeated this season at home with all five of its losses coming away from Hecht Tennis Center.
The Quakers are led in singles this season by senior
Kyle Mautner. He holds a 10-3 record this spring and has been ranked as high as No. 52 by the ITA. He's currently ranked No. 85.
Dmitry Shatalin,
Edoardo Graziani, and
Kevin Zhu have tallied double-digit wins this spring as well in singles. Shatalin has recorded a team-high 13 wins at the Quakers' No. 3 and 4 spots. The freshmen Graziani and Zhu have held their own at No. 2 and 3. Two weeks ago against Temple, Zhu came back from 5-2 down in the third set to win, 7-5, and clinch the match.
In doubles play, it has been the No. 3 pairing of
Max Cancilla and
Aleks Huryn who have impressed. The duo have put together a 5-2 record. At No. 1 doubles, Mautner and Shatalin have recorded 7-6 mark. Earlier this spring, Graziani and Zhu were ranked No. 56 by the ITA.
Penn at Princeton | Saturday, 1 p.m.
Series Information
All-Time series: Princeton leads, 92-16-2
Penn trails the all-time series against Princeton but took last year's match at Hecht Tennis Center, 6-1. The Quakers swept doubles and took five of six singles in the victory. Princeton is 16-6 this season which includes a 4-1 win over No. 48 Wichita State last weekend at the USD Challenge. The Tigers are 9-0 at home.
