Oct. 12, 2008
Norfolk, Va.: - The Penn State women's tennis team completed a success weekend with seven singles wins, including two wins in flight finals, on the final day of the Sergio Tacchini Collegiate Invitational at Old Dominion University. All totaled, the Nittany Lions posted a 23-6 mark in singles action and a 11-1 record in doubles play in Norfolk.
Junior Sarah Lotto (Toronto, Ontario) won the "C-1" Flight by defeating Emily Lewis of Drexel in straight sets (6-4, 6-2). Lotto earned her spot in the final with a win over Annie Hang of Army in the semifinal by a score of 6-3, 6-0. In the "C-3" Flight, senior Dorothy Dohanics (Pittsburgh, Pa.) beat Jovanna Sangria of Hampton in the semifinal (6-2, 7-5) and advanced to soundly defeat Melissa Lewis of Drexel in the final (6-0, 6-0).
"Lotto executed what we've been working on with her, she's really coming around," said head coach Dawna Prevette. "I was really proud of Dorothy for taking care of business with the 6-0, 6-0 win, that's not easy to do."
In other singles play, Freshman Monika Mical (Stalowa Wola, Poland) defeated Marija Citic of Old Dominion in the "B-1" Flight semifinal (4-6, 6-4, 1-0), before falling to Katie Blow of Virginia Tech in the final (7-6 (4), 3-6, 1-0). Senior Leyla Morzan (Vancouver, British Columbia) cruised past Evelyn Izaguirre of Towson in the "C-2" Flight semifinal by a score of 6-0, 6-3. Morzan later fell to Courtney Rauscher of Virginia Tech in the final (6-2, 6-3).
In the "B-3" Flight semifinal, sophomore Denisa Zobeideh (Weston, Fla.) topped Shannon Betts of Virginia Tech (6-1, 6-7 (4), 1-0) before coming up short against Margarita Spicin of Old Dominion in the final (6-3, 6-4). Despite a strong effort, senior Lauren Holzberg (Easton, Conn.) lost a heartbreaker to Joanna Dobrowolska of Old Dominion in the "A-1" Flight semifinal by a score of 7-6 (4) and 7-6 (5).
In the "A-2" Flight semifinal, freshman Maria Prishlyak (Kiev, Ukraine) fell to Nicolta Bara of Virginia Commonwealth in two sets (6-0, 6-0). Junior Lauren McCarthy (Danbury, Conn.) dropped a 6-3, 6-4 match to Irina Dementyeva of Old Dominion in the "B-2" Flight semifinal.
The Nittany Lions wrap up fall play at the Yale Tournament the weekend of Oct. 31.
Sergio Tacchini Collegiate Invitational - Day Three Results
A-1 Singles Semifinal: Joanna Dobrowolska (ODU) def. Lauren Holzberg (PSU) (7-6 (4), 7-6 (5))
A-2 Singles Semifinal: Nicolta Bara (VCU) def. Maria Prishlyak (PSU) (6-0, 6-0)
B-1 Singles Seminfinal: Monika Mical (PSU) def. Marija Citic (ODU) (4-6, 6-4, 1-0)
B-1 Singles Final: Katie Blow (Va. Tech) def. Monika Mical (PSU) (7-6 (4), 3-6, 1-0)
B-2 Singles Semifinal: Irina Dementyeva (ODU) def. Lauren McCarthy (PSU) (6-3, 6-4)
B-3 Singles Semifinal: Denisa Zobeideh (PSU) def. Shannon Betts (Va. Tech) (6-1, 6-7 (4), 1-0)
B-3 Singles Final: Margarita Spicin (ODU) def. Denisa Zobeideh (PSU) (6-3, 6-4)
C-1 Singles Semifinal: Sarah Lotto (PSU) def. Annie Hang (Army) (6-3, 6-0)
C-1 Singles Final: Sarah Lotto (PSU) def. Emily Lewis (Drexel) (6-4, 6-2)
C-2 Singles Semifinal: Leyla Morzan (PSU) def. Evelyn Izaguirre (Towson) (6-0, 6-3)
C-2 Singles Final: Courtney Rauscher (Va. Tech) def. Leyla Morzan (PSU) (6-2, 6-3)
C-3 Singles Semifinal: Dorothy Dohanics (PSU) def. Jovanna Sangria (Hampton) (6-2, 7-5)
C-3 Singles Final: Dorothy Dohanics (PSU) def. Melissa Lewis (Drexel) (6-0, 6-0)