MIDDLETOWN, Pa. -- The Kutztown University men's tennis team wrapped up its 2023-24 season with a decisive 8-1 non-conference road victory over Penn State Harrisburg on Friday afternoon at the Hoverter Tennis Complex.
The Golden Bears swept all six singles matches in straight sets, dropping just six games total along the way, and captured 2-of-3 flights in doubles to finish the year with a 6-8 overall record.
Dang Nguyen (Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam) and
Henrique Rocha (Jaticua, Brazil/Escola SEB Maceio) secured an 8-2 win over Cooper Wheeler and Clayton Herb at second doubles as the Maroon and Gold jumped out to a 1-0 lead. With Penn State Harrisburg the home team, NCAA Division III scoring rules were in effect, making each doubles match worth a point.
Joaquin Perez (Pachuca, Mexico/Escuela Americana) and
Sebastian Arizpe (Puebla, Mexico/Colegio Humboldt de Puebla) quickly made it 2-0 for the guests as they defeated Zijun Owen Ou and Derwin Merca, 8-3, at No. 1.
Harrisburg's (11-7) only point came at third doubles, where Andrew Schreck and Vik Patel held off the KU senior duo of
Justin Gincauskas (Mississauga, Ontario/Cawthra Park Secondary) and
Ethan Moyer (Wernersville, Pa./Conrad Weiser), 8-5.
Singles was all Kutztown, all the time.
Nguyen started the Bears off with a 6-1, 6-0 victory over Zijun Owen Ou at No. 2. Perez followed with a 6-0, 6-1 triumph over Schreck at No. 3 and Rocha clinched the win for KU with a 6-0, 6-0 shutout of Patel at No. 5.
Kutztown continued to roll in the final three matches, where No. 6
Neal Devkaran (Fairfax, Va./Paul VI Catholic) defeated Herb 6-0, 6-1, No. 4
Emmitt Robinson (Ingersoll, Ontario/Ingersoll District Collegiate Institute) turned away Merca 6-0, 6-2 and No. 1
Gonzalo Barcelo (San Pedro, Argentina/Nuestra Senora del Socorro) dominated Wheeler 6-1, 6-0, in his final match as a Golden Bear.
Â
