WEST CHESTER, Pa. - Penn State Harrisburg's men's tennis team dropped a 5-2 road decision to Division II foe West Chester on Thursday afternoon, March 19. 


In doubles action, Penn State Harrisburg's top duo of Cooper Wheeler and Damir Cuturic rolled to a 6-2 victory over Nick Styliades and Alessandro Melotti in the No. 1 matchup. The rams took the overall point, however, thanks to a 6-2 win in the No. 2 contest between Ved Pawar, Ian Opitz, Zack Bull and JP Beirana Guzman, and a 6-1 victory in the third that saw Thomas Joly and Ashton Bunch defeat Colin Flack and Andrew Lines 6-1. 


Cuturic provided one of the pair of wins for the Lions (1-4) in singles play, defeating Styliades 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 in a three sets in the second solo matchup in the longest match of the day. Pawar persevered through a competitive first set before making quick work of Melotti in the second, securing a 7-6 (10-6), 6-2 victory in the No. 3 contest.  


Wheeler fell to Bunch 6-3, 6-0 in the No. 1 outing, as did Opitz to Beirana Guzman 6-2, 6-0 in the No. 4 pairing. Michael Rivino dropped a 6-1, 6-2 decision to July in the fifth slot and Flack fell to Anthony Abbott 6-1, 6-1 in the No. 6 contest.


Penn State Harrisburg begins conference play and its quest to repeat as United East champions in the team's next outing, traveling to Penn State Brandywine on Saturday afternoon. 


Fans can keep up with Penn State Harrisburg men's and women's tennis all season long on Instagram and X by following the Lions using the handle @pshbgtennis.