April 23, 2009
MADISON, Wisc. - The Penn State women's tennis team dropped a tough match to No. 72 Minnesota today, losing 4-0 at the Big Ten Championship. The Nittany Lions (5-18, 2-9 Big Ten) hung with the Gophers (12-11, 4-7) and forced play on multiple courts into three sets, but the match was called when Minnesota earned its decisive fourth point. Seniors Dorothy Dohanics (Pittsburgh, Pa.) and Leyla Morzan (Vancouver, British Columbia) played their final career matches for the Lions.
"Dorothy [Dohanics] and Lauren [McCarthy] fought incredibly hard today," said head coach Dawna Prevette. "It's disappointing that they couldn't finish the year with a win. They both have a lot of pride on the court."
Minnesota took a 1-0 lead after grabbing the doubles point with wins on the No. 2 and 3 courts. In singles play, the Gophers won the first three matches to take the 4-0 win.
Leading off in second doubles, Morzan and sophomore Denisa Zobeideh (Weston, Fla.) fell to Tijana Koprivica and Jackie Sperling, 8-0. On the No. 3 court, freshman Maria Prishlyak (Kiev, Ukraine) and Dohanics held an early 3-1 lead over Magdalena Wiecha and Alex Seaton. The Gopher pair won the next seven to take the 8-3 win and clinch the doubles point for Minnesota.
In first doubles, juniors Sarah Lotto (Toronto, Ontario) and Lauren McCarthy (Danbury, Conn.) jumped out to an early 3-0 lead over Karina Chiarelli and Alessandra Ferrazzi. The Minnesota pair followed with a rally to put the score at 3-2. The teams continued to battle, but Chiarelli and Ferrazzi had moved ahead, 6-4, when Minnesota secured the doubles point on the No. 3 court and the match was called.
In singles play, Magdalena Wiecha pushed the Gopher lead to 2-0 with a win over Prishlyak on the No. 5 court, 6-2, 6-2. Following in second singles, Koprivica handled Zobeideh in straight sets, 6-1, 6-1. In the No. 6 bout, freshman Michaela Stracar (Jericho, N.Y.) battled with Seaton in the first set and was edged, 7-6 (7-4). Seaton carried her momentum into the second set, winning 6-2 and clinching the match victory for Minnesota.
More time would have been an advantage for Penn State, as the Nittany Lions on the remaining courts were keeping their matches close. McCarthy forced Chiarelli into a third set, with the score at 2-6, 6-3, 1-1 when the match was called. On the No. 3 court, Dohanics had also extended her match to a third set, trailing Ferrazzi 4-6, 6-3 when Minnesota claimed its victory. In the No. 4 bout, Morzan trailed Niltooli Wilkins, 7-6 (7-4), 6-2.
The No. 9 seed Minnesota Golden Gophers advance to tomorrow's quarterfinal against No. 1 seed Northwestern.
Minnesota 4, Penn State 0
Doubles:
1. Sarah Lotto/Lauren McCarthy (PSU) def. Karina Chiarelli/Alessandra Ferrazzi (MINN) 3-6 (unfinished)
2. Tijana Koprivica/Jackie Sperling (MINN) def. Leyla Morzan/Denisa Zobeideh (PSU) 8-0
3. Maria Prishlyak/Dorothy Dohanics (PSU) def. Magdalena Wiecha/Alex Seaton (MINN) 8-3
Order of Finish: 2, 3, 1
Singles
1. Lauren McCarthy (PSU) vs. Karina Chiarelli (MINN) 2-6, 6-3, 1-1 (unfinished)
2. Tijana Koprivica (MINN) def. Denisa Zobeideh (PSU) 6-1, 6-1
3. Dorothy Dohanics (PSU) vs. Alessandra Ferrazzi (MINN) 4-6, 6-3 (unfinished)
4. Leyla Morzan (PSU) vs. Niltooli Wilkins (MINN) 7-6 (9-7), 1-0 (unfinished)
5. Magdalena Wiecha (MINN) def. Maria Prishlyak (PSU) 6-2, 6-2
6. Alex Seaton (MINN) def. Michaela Stracar (PSU) 7-6 (7-4), 6-2
Order of Finish: 5, 2, 6