Michigan State University Athletics
Friday, March 13
University Park, Pa.
2 PM
Michigan State University
6
at
1
Penn State
Spartan Men’s Tennis Runs Win Streak To Three After Defeating Nittany Lions Friday
3/13/2026 9:25:00 PM | Men's Tennis
Michigan State earns a road win at University Park.
EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State men's tennis earned its third-straight win and another road victory in University Park, Pa., on Friday afternoon after coming out victorious, 6-1, over the Nittany Lions.
With the win, MSU runs its overall record to 6-7 overall and 3-0 in Big Ten Conference action. The Spartans have won their last three matches and in five of their last six matches. PSU is now 12-5 overall and 0-2 in B1G play. Friday was also the Spartans' fourth-straight win over the Nittany Lions in the all-time series.
Once again, the Green & White were able to claim an early lead after claiming the doubles point. The first win of the day came from the MSU pairing of senior Ozan Baris and sophomore Danial Rakhmatullayev, defeating PSU's Marcus Schoeman and Emil Matikainen 6-2. Right after, the Spartan duo of senior David Saye and sophomore Mitchell Sheldon defeated Reiya Hattori and Eyal Shyovitz, 6-3. At No. 1 doubles, sophomore Matthew Forbes teamed up with junior Aristotelis Thanos to take on Penn State's Michael Wright and David Lindsay, but ultimately fell, 4-6.
Using their momentum from taking the doubles point, the Spartans went on to secure three more victories in singles. The first singles victory of the day came from Rakhmatullayev after he defeated Lindsay in a straight-set triumph, 6-3, 6-4. Furthering the Spartan lead, Thanos earned a 6-1, 6-2 victory over Schoeman. At No. 1 singles, Forbes engaged in a long battle against Wright, coming out victorious 7-5, 7-6 (11-9). Sheldon earned another victory over Eyal Shyovitz in straight sets, 6-4, 6-2. Baris hit the court opposite Reiya Hattori and won the first set 6-4, but the match was retired in the second.
Saye battled through an intense three-set match against Kyle Chesman, coming out victorious 6-7 (6-8), 7-6 (7-3), 1-0 (10-4).
The Green & White will head to Columbus, Ohio to take on the No. 1-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes Sunday, March 15, at 12 p.m.
Doubles:
1. Michael Wright/David Lindsay (PSU) def. Matthew Forbes/Aristotelis Thanos (MSU), 4-6
2. Mitchell Sheldon/David Saye (MSU) def. Reiya Hattori/Eyal Shyovitz (PSU), 6-3
3. Ozan Baris/Danial Rakhmatullayev (MSU) def. Marcus Schoeman/Emil Matikainen (PSU), 6-2
Order of Finish: 3, 2, 1
Singles:
1. Matthew Forbes (MSU) def. Michael Wright (PSU) 7-5, 7-6 (11-9)
2. Aristotelis Thanos (MSU) def. Marcus Schoeman (PSU) 6-1, 6-2
3. Ozan Baris (MSU) vs. Reiya Hattori (PSU) 6-4, 0-1 (RET)
4. Danial Rakhmatullayev (MSU) def. David Lindsay (PSU) 6-3, 6-4
5. Mitchell Sheldon (MSU) vs Eyal Shyovitz (PSU) 6-4, 6-2
6. David Saye (MSU) vs Kyle Chesman (PSU) 6-7 (6-8), 7-6 (7-3), 1-0 (10-4)
Order of Finish: 4, 2, 1, 5, 6
With the win, MSU runs its overall record to 6-7 overall and 3-0 in Big Ten Conference action. The Spartans have won their last three matches and in five of their last six matches. PSU is now 12-5 overall and 0-2 in B1G play. Friday was also the Spartans' fourth-straight win over the Nittany Lions in the all-time series.
Once again, the Green & White were able to claim an early lead after claiming the doubles point. The first win of the day came from the MSU pairing of senior Ozan Baris and sophomore Danial Rakhmatullayev, defeating PSU's Marcus Schoeman and Emil Matikainen 6-2. Right after, the Spartan duo of senior David Saye and sophomore Mitchell Sheldon defeated Reiya Hattori and Eyal Shyovitz, 6-3. At No. 1 doubles, sophomore Matthew Forbes teamed up with junior Aristotelis Thanos to take on Penn State's Michael Wright and David Lindsay, but ultimately fell, 4-6.
Using their momentum from taking the doubles point, the Spartans went on to secure three more victories in singles. The first singles victory of the day came from Rakhmatullayev after he defeated Lindsay in a straight-set triumph, 6-3, 6-4. Furthering the Spartan lead, Thanos earned a 6-1, 6-2 victory over Schoeman. At No. 1 singles, Forbes engaged in a long battle against Wright, coming out victorious 7-5, 7-6 (11-9). Sheldon earned another victory over Eyal Shyovitz in straight sets, 6-4, 6-2. Baris hit the court opposite Reiya Hattori and won the first set 6-4, but the match was retired in the second.
Saye battled through an intense three-set match against Kyle Chesman, coming out victorious 6-7 (6-8), 7-6 (7-3), 1-0 (10-4).
The Green & White will head to Columbus, Ohio to take on the No. 1-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes Sunday, March 15, at 12 p.m.
Doubles:
1. Michael Wright/David Lindsay (PSU) def. Matthew Forbes/Aristotelis Thanos (MSU), 4-6
2. Mitchell Sheldon/David Saye (MSU) def. Reiya Hattori/Eyal Shyovitz (PSU), 6-3
3. Ozan Baris/Danial Rakhmatullayev (MSU) def. Marcus Schoeman/Emil Matikainen (PSU), 6-2
Order of Finish: 3, 2, 1
Singles:
1. Matthew Forbes (MSU) def. Michael Wright (PSU) 7-5, 7-6 (11-9)
2. Aristotelis Thanos (MSU) def. Marcus Schoeman (PSU) 6-1, 6-2
3. Ozan Baris (MSU) vs. Reiya Hattori (PSU) 6-4, 0-1 (RET)
4. Danial Rakhmatullayev (MSU) def. David Lindsay (PSU) 6-3, 6-4
5. Mitchell Sheldon (MSU) vs Eyal Shyovitz (PSU) 6-4, 6-2
6. David Saye (MSU) vs Kyle Chesman (PSU) 6-7 (6-8), 7-6 (7-3), 1-0 (10-4)
Order of Finish: 4, 2, 1, 5, 6
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
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