March 29, 2008
Minneapolis, Minn.; - Despite taking the lead early on by winning the doubles point, the Penn State women's tennis team (7-7, 1-2) could not hold off No. 57 Minnesota (11-5, 1-2), falling 4-3 today at the Baseline Tennis Center.
"We had chances and did not step up when the pressure was on," said head coach Dawna Prevette. "To Minnesota's credit, they fought back and played well. To beat teams of this caliber, we have to play better under pressure."
Earning wins in doubles for the Nittany Lions was sophomore Lauren McCarthy (Danbury, Conn.) and senior Katelyn BeVard (McLean, Va.) who paired up to take down Alessandra Ferrazzi and Tijana Koprivica, 8-5. Junior Dorothy Dohanics (Pittsburgh, Pa.) and junior Lauren Holzberg (Easton, Conn.) defeated their Gopher opponents, Mikayla Rogers and Jackie Sperling, 8-6, securing the doubles point for the Nittany Lions. Falling in doubles was sophomore Sarah Lotto (Toronto, Ontario) and senior Jenny Shular (Peachtree City, Ga.) who fell to Karina Chiarelli and Lindsay Risebrough, 8-4.
The Nittany Lions kept the pressure on going into singles play earning two more wins. Shular defeated Koprivica 6-1, 7-5, and junior Leyla Morzan (Vancouver, British Columbia) defeated Rogers 7-5, 6-3. However, Penn State could not keep its edge and Minnesota came back to narrowly win the match. BeVard fell to Ferrazzi in a tough three-set match (4-6, 6-3, 7-5), as did Holzberg who fell to Risebrough (6-4, 2-6, 6-4). Dohanics fell to Chiarelli in straight sets (6-4, 6-4) and freshman Denisa Zobeideh (Weston, Fla.) fell to Sperling (7-5, 6-3).
The Nittany Lions head to Iowa tomorrow to take on the No. 45 Hawkeyes. Action begins at 11 a.m. Penn State will be back at home next weekend continuing Big Ten play taking on Purdue and Illinois.
Minnesota: 4 Penn State: 3
Doubles
1. Karina Chiarelli/Lindsay Risebrough (UM) vs. Sarah Lotto/Jenny Shular (PSU)
Winner: UM 8-4
2. Alessandra Ferrazzi/Tijana Koprivica (UM) vs. Lauren McCarthy/Katelyn BeVard (PSU)
Winner: PSU 8-5
3. Mikayla Rogers/Jackie Sperling (UM) vs. Dorothy Dohanics/Lauren Holzberg (PSU)
Winner: PSU 8-6
Singles
1. Alessandra Ferrazzi (UM) vs. Katelyn BeVard (PSU)
Winner: UM (4-6, 6-3, 7-5)
2. Lindsay Risebrough (UM) vs. Lauren Holzberg (PSU)
Winner: UM (6-4, 2-6, 6-4)
3. Tijana Koprivica (UM) vs. Jenny Shular (PSU)
Winner: PSU (6-1, 7-5)
4. Karina Chiarelli (UM) vs. Dorothy Dohanics (PSU)
Winner: UM (6-4, 6-4)
5. Jackie Sperling (UM) vs. Denisa Zobeideh (PSU)
Winner: UM (6-4, 7-5)
6. Mikayla Rogers (UM) vs. Leyla Morzan (PSU)
Winner: PSU (7-5, 6-3)
- Nittany Lions -