Feb. 28, 2009
COLUMBUS, OHIO; - In its second Big Ten match of the season, the Penn State women's tennis team (2-8, 0-2) fell to No. 37 Ohio State (6-5, 1-0) today, 6-1.
The Buckeyes jumped out to an early 1-0 lead after sweeping the doubles competition. Angela DiPastina and Christina Keesey handled junior Sarah Lotto (Toronto, Ontario) and freshman Monika Mical (Stalowa Wola, Poland) in first singles, 8-2. Following in the No. 3 match-up, junior Lauren McCarthy (Danbury, Conn.) and sophomore Denisa Zobeideh (Weston, Fla.) were swept by Paloma Escobedo and Kirsten Flower, 8-0, sealing the doubles point for Ohio State. Seniors Dorothy Dohanics (Pittsburgh, Pa.) and Leyla Morzan (Vancouver, British Columbia) battled back and forth with Julie Blackmore and Cami Hubbs in No. 3 singles before falling short in an 8-5 loss.
With the Buckeyes up 1-0, the match moved into singles competition. In her first match of the spring season, freshman Michaela Stracar (Jericho, N.Y.) fell behind Keesey early in sixth singles, falling 6-1 in the first set. Keesey went on to win the second set, 6-1, putting the Buckeyes ahead 2-0. Following on the No. 5 court, Zobeideh dropped her first set to Blackmore, 6-2. The second set was tied at 2-2 before Blackmore took 3 straight games to jump ahead 5-2. Unable to fight back, Zobeideh fell in the second set by a 6-3 margin.
In first singles, Mical jumped out to an early 4-3 lead before No. 116 ranked Flower rallied to win the first set, 6-4. Mical trailed throughout the second set, as Flower picked up the 6-3 win and clinched the match victory for the Buckeyes. Following in the No. 2 match-up, McCarthy fell to Escobedo in straight sets, 6-3, 6-2.
Morzan opened up the first set of No. 4 singles with a 3-0 lead over Hubbs, but her opponent battled back to tie the score at 5-5. Morzan was unable to hold on as Hubbs stole the first set, 7-5. As play moved on into the second set, Morzan found herself ahead 2-0. Hubbs took the next three games on her way to another 7-5 win, putting the Buckeyes ahead 6-0.
In third singles, Dohanics charged ahead of DiPastina early, easily winning the first set, 6-1. Dohanics cruised to an early 3-1 lead in the second set before DiPastina fought back and put the score at 4-3. Dohanics rallied to take the second set 6-4, earning a straight set victory and the lone point of the day for the Nittany Lions.
The Nittany Lions are back at home next weekend for a non-conference match-up with Wichita State on Saturday, March 7 at 1 p.m at the Penn State Indoor Tennis Center. Admission to the match is free.
No. 37 Ohio State 6, Penn State 1
Doubles Results
1. Angela DiPastina/Christina Keesey (OSU) def. Sarah Lotto/Monika Mical (PSU) 8-2
2. Julie Blackmore/Cami Hubbs (OSU) def. Dorothy Dohanics/Leyla Morzan (PSU) 8-5
3. Paloma Escobedo/Kirsten Flower (OSU) def. Lauren McCarthy/Denisa Zobeideh (PSU) 8-0
Order of Finish: 1, 3, 2
Singles Competition
1. #116 Kirsten Flower (OSU) def. Monika Mical (PSU) 6-4, 6-3
2. Paloma Escobedo (OSU) def. Lauren McCarthy (PSU) 6-3, 6-2
3. Dorothy Dohanics (PSU) def. Angela DiPastina (OSU) 6-1, 6-4
4. Cami Hubbs (OSU) def. Leyla Morzan (PSU) 7-5, 7-5
5. Julie Blackmore (OSU) def. Denisa Zobeideh (PSU) 6-2, 6-3
6. Christina Keesey (OSU) def. Michaela Stracar (PSU) 6-1, 6-1
Order of Finish: 6, 5, 1, 2, 4, 3
No. 37 Ohio State 6-5, 1-0 Big Ten
Penn State 2-8, 0-2 Big Ten