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Nittany Lions knock off first ranked opponent of the season to remain unbeaten
The Nittany Lions swept the singles competition to defeat the No. 49 Virginia Commonwealth Rams 6-1 at home Sunday afternoon.
Despite
dropping two of three doubles matches and going down 1-0 early to their
first ranked opponent on the season, the Nittany Lions battled back
winning each and every singles match resulting in a 6-1 victory over
the tough squad from Richmond. Petra Januskova and Chelsea Utting
easily strolled to victory over Olga Barschevskaya and Daria
Yakauleva in the No. 1 position winning, 8-1. VCU also won a
quick match with their duo of Cindy Chala and Josefin Hjertquist
knocking off Jacqueline Zuhse and Katherine Whiteaway 8-1 in the No. 2
doubles match.
The doubles point came down to the No. 3
doubles match between Carmen Sandor and Devan McCluskey and Salome
Kvitashvili Olga Terteac with each team recording a win. The Rams duo
bested Penn State's previously undefeated pairing 8-6 clinching the
doubles victory for Virginia Commonwealth.
Zuhse evened the
match at one point apiece defeating Olga Terteac in straight sets 6-1,
6-1. It was her first time playing in the No. 3 singles position.
McCluskey, ranked No. 18 in the region, also won her match in straight
sets knocking off Salome Kvitashvili, ranked No. 6 in the region, 6-4,
7-5. Januskova notched her victory in singles topping Cindy Chala, 6-2,
3-6, 6-3.
Utting clinched the win for the Nittany Lions
knocking off Josefin Hjertquist in three sets, 7-5, 4-6, 6-3. Along
with Zuhse, Utting remains unbeaten in singles play on the spring
having each won both of their matches this weekend. Sandor and Sarah
Henderson wasted no time getting their victories and closing out the
match for Penn State, both winning in straight sets. Sandor toppled
Yukako Noi 6-3, 6-3 before Henderson knocked off the region's No. 20
ranked player, Barschevskaya, 7-6 (4), 6-1 to give the Nittany Lions
their 6-1 victory.
The win is the second straight over the
Rams for the Nittany Lions and moves them to 4-5 all time in the
series. Penn State will face another tough opponent next Sunday when
they begin their conference schedule by traveling to Columbus to take
on the Buckeyes.
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