KUTZTOWN, PA (April 21, 2010) – Reigning Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) champion Kutztown University will begin defense of its crown when it battles fourth-seeded Millersville University on Friday at Bloomsburg University at 2 p.m. in the PSAC semifinals.

Making its sixth consecutive PSAC playoff appearance, Kutztown went undefeated against PSAC schools this season, posting a 5-0 record. Kutztown is 8-4 overall.  

In the last 10 matches, Kutztown is 7-3. The Golden Bears are fueled by the quartet of Kaushik Das, who is 14-4 in singles matches, Jonathan Goulet, who has 10 singles victories, Asok Mukherjee, who hasn't lost in nine singles matches or dropped a match in conference play, and Arpit Sharma, who has eight victories. The doubles tandem of Das and Sharma are 11-1 overall.

Millersville's top singles players this season have been Henry Ben and Erik Wright. Ben has a team-high nine singles' victories and Wright has eight triumphs. Donald Swantko has won his three of his last four matches for the Marauders. In the earlier matchup between Kutztown and Millersville, Ben and Wright were winners at No. 4 and No. 6 singles respectively. Wright teamed with Tyler Reppert to win at second doubles.

The Golden Bears are seeking their ninth overall PSAC championship and seventh in the last eight years. Kutztown has not lost a regular season conference match in two years. The Golden Bears defeated Millersville, 5-0, in an NCAA Atlantic Region matchup last season and 5-2 in the PSAC semifinals in 2008.

The other semifinal match is second-seeded Bloomsburg against third-seeded Mercyhurst. The two match winners will meet for the PSAC Championship Saturday afternoon at Noon. Kutztown has defeated all three teams this season. The Golden Bears beat Mercyhurst (5-4), Millersville (6-3) and Bloomsburg (7-2).

--KU--