Oct. 9, 2009
LEXINGTON, Ky.; - Seniors Sarah Lotto (Toronto, Ontario) and Lauren McCarthy (Danbury, Conn.) and freshman Petra Januskova (Ottawa, Canada) picked up three big victories for the Nittany Lions today during the first day of the Kentucky Invitational. Lotto grabbed a three-set singles victory while McCarthy and Januskova stormed to the Flight A doubles semifinal with two wins.
"I was very proud of Sarah Lotto, she fought hard to win her singles match" said head coach Dawna Prevette. "Petra [Januskova] and Lauren [McCarthy] showed a lot of solid improvements in doubles."
In this morning's Flight A singles action, McCarthy won a tough first set over Jo-Ann VanAerde of Louisville, 7-6(7). VanAerde responded in the second set with a 6-3 win, and clinched the match with a 6-3 victory in the third. McCarthy will face Denise Muresan of Michigan in tomorrow's consolation quarterfinal. In her collegiate tennis debut, Januskova was defeated by Sona Novakova of Armstrong Atlantic State, 6-4, 6-1. The rookie will play in tomorrow's consolation quarterfinal against Sarah Miller of Louisville.
Sophomore Maria Prishlyak (Kiev, Ukraine) fell to Gabby Steele of Ohio State, 6-1, 6-1, in the opening round of Flight B singles, placing her in tomorrow's consolation quarterfinal against Neela Vaez of Virginia. Lotto won an exciting three-set match in the opening round of Flight C over Andrea Voinea of ETSU, 6-4, 2-6, 6-1. She advances to the quarterfinal match against Jaclyn Walker of ACU tomorrow. In other Flight C action, freshman Sarah Henderson (Auckland, New Zealand) fell to Diana Navrotska of ETSU in the opening round, 6-3, 6-1. She will take on Ashley Irvin of Louisville tomorrow in the consolation quarterfinal.
Sophomore Michaela Stracar (Jericho, N.Y.) received a bye in the first round of Flight D singles and will face Louise Noe of Louisville tomorrow in the quarterfinal. In other Flight D action, sophomore Allie Hefter (Longmont, Colo.) was topped by Miranda Cameron of ETSU in straight sets, 6-3, 6-2.
In doubles action, Januskova and McCarthy picked up two wins in Flight A play, defeating Anouk Faure and Myriem Mhirit of Eastern Kentucky, 8-2, in the opening round and edged Caroline Lilley and Minnette Pienaar of Kentucky in the quarterfinal, 9-8(5). The Nittany Lion pair will take on Lindsay Hardenburgh and Erin Vierra of Virginia in the flight semifinal. Lotto and Prishlyak put up a fight against Chelsea Preeg and Jackie Wu of Vanderbilt before falling, 8-5. The pair was then defeated by Amelia Harris and Jo-Ann VanAerde of Louisville in the consolation quarterfinal, 8-4.
Henderson and Stracar dropped their opening match in Flight B singles to Kristina Minor and Christine Stramberg of Illinois, 8-1. The pair moved on to defeat Diana Navrotska of ETSU and teammate Hefter in the consolation quarterfinal, 8-1.
The Nittany Lions continue play in Lexington tomorrow and Sunday. Following this weekend's tournament, the Lions travel to Blacksburg, Va. next weekend to take part in the ITA Regional Tournament. The team wraps up its fall season at the Purdue Invitational the weekend of Nov. 6.
University of Kentucky Invitational: Day One Results
SINGLES
Flight A Singles
Opening Round: Jo-Ann VanAerde (UL) def. Lauren McCarthy (PSU), 6-7(7), 6-3, 6-3
Opening Round: Sona Novakova (AASU) def. Petra Januskova (PSU), 6-4, 6-1
Flight B Singles
Opening Round: Gabby Steele (OSU) def. Maria Prishlyak (PSU), 6-1, 6-1
Flight C Singles
Opening Round: Sarah Lotto (PSU) def. Andrea Voinea (ETSU), 6-4, 2-6, 6-1
Opening Round: Diana Navrotska (ETSU) def. Sarah Henderson (PSU), 6-3, 6-1
Flight D Singles
Opening Round: Megan Gornet (VU) def. Allie Hefter (PSU), 6-3, 6-2
DOUBLES
Flight A Doubles
Opening Round: Chelsea Preeg/Jackie Wu (VU) def. Sarah Lotto/Maria Prishlyak (PSU), 8-5
Opening Round: Petra Januskova/Lauren McCarthy (PSU) def. Anouk Faure/Myriem Mhirit (EKU), 8-2
Quarterfinal: Petra Januskova/Lauren McCarthy (PSU) def. Lilley/Pienaar (UK), 9-8(5)
Consolation Quarterfinal: Harris/VanAerde (UL) def. Lotto/Prishlyak (PSU), 8-4
Flight B Doubles
Opening Round: Minor/Stramberg (UI) def. Henderson/Stracar (PSU), 8-1
Consolation Quarterfinal: Henderson/Stracar (PSU) def. Diana Navrotska (ETSU)/Hefter (PSU), 8-1
Opening Round: Carver/Monigin (ACU) def. Diana Navrotska (ETSU)/Hefter (PSU), 8-6