February 6, 2009
Tech travels to Happy Valley
Hokies to play No. 44 Penn State Saturday afternoon
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Hampden-Sydney1
Virginia Tech 14

BLACKSBURG, Va. --- The Virginia Tech men’s tennis team continues the dual match season on Saturday when the Hokies travel to University Park for a noon match against No. 44 Penn State. The match will be held at the Penn State Indoor Tennis Center.

Virginia Tech (1-1), ranked No. 32 in this week’s ITA national poll, saw its’ first dual-match action of the season last weekend in Columbus, Ohio participating in the ITA Kick-off Weekend, a qualifying event for the ITA National Indoor Championship. The Hokies edged No. 41 New Mexico 4-3 in the first round before falling to No. 1 Ohio State, 5-2.

Tech will be led by Yoann Re, the reigning Atlantic Coast Conference Men’s Tennis Player of the Week. Re, a junior from Quebec, Canada, won both of his singles and doubles matches last weekend in en route to the honor. He upset No. 6 Justin Kronauge of Ohio State 6-2, 6-4 in No. 2 singles after teaming with Patrick Daciek to upset the Buckeyes 41st-ranked doubles team. Re was also solid against New Mexico in the first round, easily winning both his singles and doubles matches. Re topped Miles Bugby 6-4, 6-0 at No. 3 in that singles match.

The Hokies will also have Pedro Graber (Jr., Santiago, Chile), ranked No. 100 nationally, playing in the top half of the lineup along with Nicolas Delgado de Robles (Sr., Madrid, Spain).

Penn State (2-3) hosted one of the 15 ITA Kick-off regionals last weekend and suffered losses against No. 21 Oklahoma State (4-3) and No. 33 Duke (4-0). The Nittany Lions opened the year with a 5-2 loss at NC State before defeating St. Bonaventure and Saint Joseph’s by 7-0 scores.

Last year in Blacksburg, Penn State jumped out to a 3-0 lead before the Hokies mounted a thrilling comeback. After Tech won three straight singles matches, including a come-from-behind win by Re at No. 2, the match came down the No. 6 contest. Tech’s Brandon Corace found himself trailing 1-3 in the third set before ripping off five of the final six games to take the deciding frame 6-4.

Following Saturday’s contest, the Hokies will have their home-opener on Fri., Feb. 13, against the College of Charleston (3 p.m.) and St. Bonaventure (7 p.m.).

For updates on Virginia Tech men's tennis, follow the Hokies on Twitter (@VT_MTennis).

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