M. Tennis ready to face Navy

One if by land, two if by sea. After knocking off Army 5-2 earlier this season, the Quakers (8-8) look to complete their personal sweep of the United States service academies with a win at home over the Midshipmen(16-9) today. "I don't think it will be too much of a challenge," Penn No.1 singles Fanda Stejskal said. "They are a weaker opponent than the teams we usually face." Navy, which competes in the Patriot League, currently boasts a 2-1 conference record, having defeated Colgate 7-0 and Bucknell, 6-1. The Midshipmen's one conference loss came to Army in a 5-2 drubbing on April 1. In addition to the Black Knights, Penn and Navy have only one other common opponent: Yale. Whereas the Quakers fell to the Elis, 4-3, the Midshipmen were blown out of the water, 7-0. Last season, Penn defeated Navy, 5-2, capturing five out of six singles matches, en route to victory. Most noteworthy about last season's triumph was Stejskal's 6-4, 6-4 defeat of the region's No.1 ranked player, Mitchell Koch. With Koch having graduated last spring, the Quakers have a much easier path to victory. Penn's confidence going into this match is buoyed by its first Ivy League triumphant this season -- a 7-0 thrashing of Dartmouth last Sunday. "The win over Dartmouth was a huge victory for the team," Stejskal said. "It should really motivate us for the rest of the season." The Quakers had been reeling prior to the Dartmouth match after losing consecutive league matches to Yale, Harvard and Brown. After snapping their three-game losing skid, the Quakers now look to continue their winning ways today before continuing Ivy League play this weekend. "More than anything, [the match against Navy] should be an opportunity to work on our games," Stejskal said. "We will use it to fine tune our play before heading back into the Ivies."

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