Jan. 24, 2009
BOISE, IDAHO; - The Penn State women's tennis team advanced to 2-0 today with a 5-2 victory over Montana State (0-2) at Boise State's Boas Tennis Center. The Nittany Lions swept the doubles competition and won four singles matches.
"We came out strong in the doubles, I was happy with how we played," said head coach Dawna Prevette. "I think we're really improving in that area."
The No. 2 doubles pairing of junior Lauren McCarthy (Danbury, Conn.) and sophomore Denisa Zobeideh (Weston, Fla.) kicked off the match with an 8-0 shut out of Missy Harris and McKenzie Hilmer. Playing in the No. 1 position, freshman Monika Mical (Stalowa Wola, Poland) and junior Sarah Lotto (Toronto, Ontario) clinched the doubles point for the Lions by defeating Stephanie Jasper and Ali Griffin, 8-4. Freshman Maria Prishlyak (Kiev, Ukraine) and senior Dorothy Dohanics (Pittsburgh, Pa.) wrapped up No. 3 doubles with an 8-3 win over Laura Villegas and Andrea De La Torre.
Penn State carried its momentum into to the singles competition, as senior Leyla Morzan (Vancouver, British Columbia) defeated Andrea De La Torre in straight sets, 6-2, 6-0. Playing in the No. 5 spot, Dohanics held off McKenzie Hilmer with a 6-3, 6-4 win. McCarthy followed with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Ali Griffin in the No. 4 match up. Despite putting up a fight in the first set, Prishlyak fell to Missy Harris 7-5, 6-0 in the No. 2 bout, giving the Bobcats their first point of the match.
In the No. 1 singles contest, the Bobcats earned their second victory of the day as Jasper avenged her doubles loss with a win over Mical, 7-6, 6-2. In No. 3 singles, Zobeideh fell behind early, losing her first set 2-6. From there, she never looked back and dominated the last two sets, winning the match 2-6, 6-3, 6-1.
The Lions are back in action tomorrow with a match against Boise State at noon. Following this weekend's trip, the Nittany Lions will be on the road next weekend for two matches in Huntingtown, W.Va. The team will face South Alabama Saturday, Feb. 7 at 2 p.m., followed by a match up with Marshall Sunday, Feb. 8 at 11 a.m.
Penn State University 5, Montana State University 2
Singles Competition
1. Stephanie Jasper (MSU) def. Monika Mical (PSU) 7-6, 6-2
2. Missy Harris (MSU) def. Maria Prishlyak (PSU) 7-5, 6-0
3. Denisa Zobeideh (PSU) def. Laura Villegas (MSU) 2-6, 6-3, 6-1
4. Lauren McCarthy (PSU) def. Ali Griffin (MSU) 6-3, 6-4
5. Dorothy Dohanics (PSU) def. McKenzie Hilmer (MSU) 6-3, 6-4
6. Leyla Morzan (PSU) def. Andrea De La Torre (MSU) 6-2, 6-0
Order of Finish: 6, 5, 4, 2, 1, 3
Doubles Competition
1. Monika Mical/Sarah Lotto (PSU) def. Stephanie Jasper/Ali Griffin (MSU) 8-4
2. Lauren McCarthy/Denisa Zobeideh (PSU) def. Missy Harris/McKenzie Hilmer (MSU) 8-0
3. Maria Prishlyak/Dorothy Dohanics (PSU) def. Laura Villegas/Andrea De La Torre (MSU) 8-3
Order of Finish: 2, 1, 3
Match Notes:
Penn State University 2-0
Montana State University 0-2