This could be the beginning of a beautiful relationship.
In only their second doubles match together, junior co-captain Craig Rubin and freshman Mikhail Bekker performed as though they had played with each other for years.
They defeated the Navy team of Adrian Lai and Davy Lee, 9-7, helping the Quakers sweep the opening doubles points.
That victory captured the momentum from the outset, as the Red and Blue cruised to a 6-1 victory over the Midshipmen.
"This was only our second match together," Rubin said afterward. "The opposition was scrappy so it was a good win."
Rubin did not fare as well in his singles match, splitting sets with Lee before succumbing, 10-5, in a tiebreaker in lieu of a third set. Bekker fared better, defeating Navy's Ryan Osgood, 6-1, 6-2, and was pleased with his own singles performance.
"I was feeling well today," Bekker said. "I started well from the very beginning."
Bekker's strong play was contagious, as the Quakers won their other four singles matches. In fact, no Penn player other than Rubin dropped more than five games in his singles match.
"We went in and outworked them," Penn junior Justin Lavner said. "We were consistent and we outworked them."
Perhaps even more pleasing to the Red and Blue than the victory was their ability to beat an opponent on the road.
Entering the match, Penn was a stellar 5-0 at Levy Tennis Pavilion, but had a subpar 2-3 record away from home.
This difference can be attributed, in part, to the Quakers' tough matches against Miami and Central Florida over spring break. As Rubin said, "All the losses were to quality opponents."
The team was pleased with the road victory, nevertheless.
"It was more of a challenge," Lavner said. "And we just stepped up to the challenge."
The disparity between Penn's home and away records has a silver lining. The Quakers have not lost at home and their confidence is increasing, which will come in handy as they have six straight home matches on tap, including a visit from archrival Princeton.
"It's nice to see we are developing a home court advantage," Rubin said.
In addition, the Quakers seem to be developing some doubles chemistry, something that Penn coach Mark Riley has been stressing from the beginning of the season.
In addition to Bekker and Rubin's triumph, Lavner and junior Todd Lecher were victorious in doubles, 8-5. Coming off a tough doubles win against Saint Bonaventure over the weekend, Lavner believes he and Lecher are "building momentum."
If these key doubles relationships blossom this spring, it could portend big things for the Quakers in upcoming matches.
PENN 6, Navy 1 Singles
1 -- Mikhail Bekker (P) def. Ryan Osgood, 6-1, 6-2
2 -- Justin Lavner (P) def. Stanley Kahl, 6-3, 6-2
3 -- Davy Lee def. Craig Rubin (P), 5-7, 6-3, 10-5
4 -- Todd Lecher (P) def. Brandon Carter, 6-2, 6-2
5 -- Jimmy Fairbanks (P) def. Adrian Lai, 6-2, 6-0
6 -- Anthony Pu (P) def. Haley Dodson, 6-1, 6-4
Doubles
1 -- Lavner/Lecher (P) def. Carter/Kahl, 8-5
2 -- Fairbanks/Pu (P) def. Dodson/Osgood, 8-5
3 -- Bekker/Rubin (P) def. Lai/Lee, 9-7
