March 12, 2008
Stillwater, Okla.; - The Penn State women's tennis team rallied last night in singles to defeat the Cowgirls of Oklahoma State, 4-3. Sophomore Lauren McCarthy (Danbury, Conn.) sealed the win for the Nittany Lions in the match that lasted five hours.
"I am very proud of McCarthy," said head coach Dawna Prevette. "I kept telling her that she was ready for this situation because she was down 2-5. She really stepped it up under pressure!"
The Cowgirls secured the doubles point with wins at No. 1 and No. 2. Cowgirls Yawna Allen and Iryna Tkachenko defeated sophomore Sarah Lotto (Toronto, Ontario) and senior Katelyn BeVard (McLean, Va.), 8-5. JoAnne Karaitiana and Maryna Tkachenko defeated McCarthy and junior Lauren Holzberg (Danbury, Conn.), 8-3. Senior Jenny Shular (Peachtree City, Ga.) and junior Leyla Morzan (Vancouver, British Columbia) defeated Cowgirls Michelle Allen and Sasha Belova, 8-2.
After not earning the doubles point, the Nittany Lions needed four singles wins to defeat Oklahoma State. Holzberg defeated Allen in one of four exciting three-set matches (5-7, 6-1, 6-2). Shular, who lost the first set, came back and defeated Karaitiana (1-6, 6-1, 7-5). McCarthy, who sealed the deal for the Nittany Lions, defeated Maryna Tkachenko (7-6 (4), 5-7, 7-6 (4)). Rounding out the wins for Penn State was junior Dorothy Dohanics (Pittsburgh, Pa.) with a convincing win over Michelle Allen (6-0, 6-1). Falling in singles was Bevard who lost to Iryna Tkachenko (6-0, 6-2), and Lotto who fell to Belova (6-4, 3-6, 6-1)
The Nittany Lions head to Wichita State today to take on the Shockers before returning home. The match begins at 2 p.m.
Penn State: 4 Oklahoma State: 3
Doubles
1. Sarah Lotto/Katelyn BeVard (PSU) vs. Yawna Allen/Iryna Tkachenko (OSU)
Winner: OSU 8-5
2. Lauren Holzberg/Lauren McCarthy (PSU) vs. JoAnne Karaitiana/Maryna Tkachenko (OSU)
Winner: OSU 8-3
3. Jenny Shular/Leyla Morzan (PSU) vs. Michelle Allen/Sasha Belova (OSU)
Winner: PSU 8-2
Singles
1. Katelyn BeVard (PSU) vs. Iryna Tkachenko (OSU)
Winner: OSU (6-0, 6-2)
2. Lauren Holzberg (PSU) vs. Yawna Allen (OSU)
Winner: PSU (5-7, 6-1, 6-2)
3. Jenny Shular (PSU) vs. JoAnne Karaitiana (OSU)
Winner: PSU (1-6, 6-1, 7-5)
4. Sarah Lotto (PSU) vs. Sasha Belova (OSU)
Winner: OSU (6-4, 3-6, 6-1)
5. Lauren McCarthy (PSU) vs. Maryna Tkachenko (OSU)
Winner: PSU (7-6 (4), 5-7, 7-6 (4))
6. Dorothy Dohanics (PSU) vs. Michelle Allen (OSU)
Winner: PSU (6-0, 6-1)
- Nittany Lions -