April 12, 2009
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; - In its last home match of the season, the Penn State women's tennis team was defeated by Big Ten rival Illinois today, 7-0. The No. 36 Fighting Illini improve to 16-5 and 7-1 in the Big Ten while the Nittany Lions fall to 5-15 on the season and 2-6 in the conference.
"We competed really hard, Illinois just was better today," said head coach Dawna Prevette. "We have some adjustments to make this week to get ready for Wisconsin."
Illinois took an early 1-0 after sweeping the doubles competition. The Fighting Illini carried their momentum into singles, winning all six of the matches.
In No. 2 doubles, sophomore Denisa Zobeideh (Weston, Fla.) and senior Leyla Morzan (Vancouver, British Columbia) were tied with Marisa Lambropoulos and Megan Fudge at 3-3, but Illinois won out from there, collecting an 8-3 victory. Juniors Sarah Lotto (Toronto, Ontario) and Lauren McCarthy (Danbury, Conn.) trailed Leigh Finnegan and Chelcie Abajian early on the No. 1 court, 3-0. The Illinois pair stormed ahead to 7-1, but McCarthy and Lotto won four straight to put the score at 7-5. Finnegan and Abajian held off the comeback to win the match, 8-5, clinching the doubles point for the Illini. Following in third doubles, freshman Monika Mical (Stalowa Wola, Poland) and senior Dorothy Dohanics (Pittsburgh, Pa.) were within two of Annie McCarthy and Amy Allin at 6-4, but were defeated, 8-5.
With Illinois ahead 1-0, singles competition began. Abajian gave the Illini a 2-0 lead with a 6-1, 6-3 victory over Dohanics on the No. 3 court. In fifth singles, freshman Maria Prishlyak (Kiev, Ukraine) was defeated by Allin, 6-2, 6-3. Lambropoulos topped Morzan in No. 4 singles, 6-1, 6-4, putting Illini ahead 4-0 and clinching the match victory.
Following on the No. 1 court, McCarthy fell to No. 111 Finnegan in the first set, 6-2. McCarthy battled in the second set but despite four lead changes, Finnegan came out on top, 6-3. On the No. 2 court, No. 108 Megan Fudge overpowered Zobeideh in straight sets, 6-2, 6-1. In the final match of the day, Lotto fell to Kristina Minor in the first set of No. 6 singles, 6-3. Lotto was within one of Minor throughout the second set, but fell by a 6-5 margin.
The Nittany Lions are back on the road next weekend to take on Wisconsin on Saturday, April 18 at noon, followed by No. 1 Northwestern on Sunday, April 19 at noon. The Lions return to Wisconsin the week of April 22 for the Big Ten Championship.
No. 36 Illinois 7, Penn State 0
Doubles
1.Leigh Finnegan/Chelcie Abajian (UI) def. Sarah Lotto/Lauren McCarthy (PSU) 8-5
2.Marisa Lambropoulos/Megan Fudge (UI) def. Denisa Zobeideh/Leyla Morzan (PSU) 8-3
3.Annie McCarthy/Amy Ali (UI) def. Dorothy Dohanics/Monika Mical (PSU) 8-5
Order of Finish: 2, 1, 3
Singles
1. No. 111 Leigh Finnegan (UI) def. Lauren McCarthy (PSU) 6-2, 6-3
2. No. 108 Megan Fudge (UI) def. Denisa Zobeideh (PSU) 6-2, 6-1
3. Chelcie Abajian (UI) def. Dorothy Dohanics (PSU) 6-1, 6-3
4. Marisa Lambropoulos (UI) def. Leyla Morzan (PSU) 6-1, 6-4
5. Amy Allin (UI) def. Maria Prishlyak (PSU) 6-2, 6-3
6. Kristina Minor (UI) def. Sarah Lotto (PSU) 6-3, 6-4
Order of Finish: 3, 5, 4, 1, 2, 6