By John Ostapowicz / The Jambar
The Youngstown State University men’s tennis team remained undefeated Jan. 31-Feb. 1 as it traveled to Cumberland, Rhode Island for two matches against Bryant University and Nichols College.
Before the two-day road trip, senior William Rassat earned Under Armour Horizon League Singles Player of the Week, while freshman Ethan Dasset and sophomore Onder Balci were named the Under Armour Horizon League Doubles Players of the Week.
The first match against the Bulldogs featured a 3-0 rally by the Penguins, as they trailed for a majority of the contest. Four three-set victories in singles matches propelled Youngstown State to a 4-3 win over Bryant.
Rassat, senior Chester Wickwire and freshmen Mihai Haita and Viktor Van Craenenbroeck all picked up wins against their opponents.
In doubles matches, the duo of Balci and freshman Filip Avdeev secured a 6-2 victory at No. 2. The pair were the only Penguins to record a win in doubles matches.
At No. 1, Rassat and Wickwire fell to Bulldog sophomore Otakar Ungerman and graduate student Raissi Sepehr 6-2.
Youngstown State stayed at the Fore Court Tennis Center for a matchup against Nichols.
The Penguins swept the Bison with a 7-0 win, as they picked up six singles-contest victories and secured the doubles point.
Five of the six wins in singles matches were picked up in straight sets.
With a 4-0 start to the season, it marks the men’s tennis team’s second year in a row winning four straight matches to begin the season.
Before the start of the season, Youngstown State was tabbed to finish second in the North Division in the 2025 Under Armour Men’s Horizon League Tennis Preseason Poll.
The Penguins garnered one first place vote in the poll, while Cleveland State University earned four.
Youngstown State will return home for six-consecutive matches. Competition begins with a double header at 10 a.m. Feb. 8 against the University of Toledo and 5 p.m. against Walsh University, inside the YSU Indoor Tennis Center.
