Youngstown State University
Tennessee State
Penguins Open HL Title Defense on Friday
4/27/2023 11:30:00 AM | Men's Tennis
The Youngstown State Men's Tennis team begins defense of its Horizon League Tournament Championship at the Varsity Tennis Center on the campus of the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor on Friday afternoon.
YSU, the No. 2 seed from the North Division, will face No. 3 South Division foe Tennessee State in the quarterfinals at 3 p.m. It marks the first-ever meeting between the two programs. The winner advances to play No. 1 South Division seed Belmont. Tennessee State enters the match with Guins following a 10-14 campaign while going 6-4 in the OVC. Belmont is 19-5 having won 11 straight matches.
The Penguins finished the regular season with a 12-10 mark overall and have won seven of 10 matches since March 17. It marks the sixth time in seven years that program has won at least 12 matches in a campaign. The lone exception coming in the spring of 2020 when all matches were canceled in March.
Last year the Guins claimed their first Horizon League Tournament title with a pair of victories at the Varsity Tennis Center. YSU beat UIC in the semifinals before dispatching of IUPUI in the championship match.
A victory over the Tigers will give YSU its sixth consecutive appearance in the Horizon League semifinals.
North Division vs. South Division
The six members of the Ohio Valley Conference joined the five members of the Horizon League this year. The OVC schools made up the South Division while HL newcomer Chicago State joined the North Division replacing UIC. Schools from the North Division to reach the tournament a Cleveland State, YSU and Northern Kentucky. Advancing from the South are Belmont, Tennessee Tech and Tennessee State.
Regular Season Recap
YSU played its first dual match of the season was on Jan. 20 at Butler. The Penguins earned their first victory of the season six days later with a 4-3 triumph over Buffalo at the YSU Indoor Tennis Center. The Guins then won three straight home matches putting them at 4-3 for the year. Youngstown State dropped four of its next five contests, but had an impressive win over North Dakota on Feb. 18. Entering the contest against Illinois State on March 17, YSU was 5-7 before earning a thrilling 4-3 win over the Redbirds. Once HL play started, the Guins won three 4-3 decisions and dropped one at CSU.
Horizon League Numbers
Individually in the eight Horizon League matches this spring, YSU was 27-21 in singles and 14-8 in doubles. Javi Gonzlez Pla went a perfect 8-0 in league matches Harry Fouzas and Clement Mainguy each picked up five victories. In doubles, David Alvarez Moreno and Will Everett teamed up to go 6-2 while Fouzas and Laurentiu Mandosecu posted a 5-3 mark.
Horizon League Tournament History
All-time in Horizon League Tournament play, the Penguins own a 7-25 mark. Four of the seven victories have come since 2017. The Guins reached the finals for the first time last year in program history. Prior to winning twice last year, YSU's most recent victory in the event was April 27, 2018 against Wright State.
For news and updates throughout the tournament, follow the Youngstown State men's tennis program on Twitter @YSUMensTennis
