Feb. 11, 2010
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Penn State women's tennis team is on the road for a second straight weekend to take on the Shockers of No. 74 Wichita State Saturday at 1 p.m. and the Oklahoma Sooners Sunday at 11 a.m.
Last time out, the Nittany Lions fell to Purdue in their first Big Ten match of the season, 5-2. The Lions had the score tied at 2-2, but the Boilermakers pulled away to take the conference win. Freshman Petra Januskova (Ottawa, Canada) handled Michelle Sammons in straight sets on the No. 1 court, 6-2, 6-4, while fellow freshman Amy Simidian (Carlstadt, N.J.) topped Purdue's Imogen Golder in fifth singles, 6-1, 7-6. The rookie duo also picked up an 8-4 No. 2 doubles win for Penn State over Dushkina and Remi Martin.
Wichita State is currently ranked No. 74 nationally by ITA. The Shockers are 1-4 this spring, with all four losses coming against ranked opponents. Senior Stephanie Dalmacio is 3-1 for Wichita State on the No. 1 singles court during spring play. She and sophomore doubles partner Lutfiana Budiharto are 2-1 in first doubles.
Oklahoma is undefeated after upsetting No. 30 Alabama last weekend, 4-3. The Sooners recorded shut-outs over Arkansas-Little Rock, Oral Roberts and North Texas. Junior Maria Kalashnikova, who clinched the win over the Crimson Tide, is 4-0 in singles this spring. Live statistics for Sunday's match can be accessed the Oklahoma match listing on the Schedule tab above.
Last year, then-No. 66 Wichita State topped Penn State in Happy Valley, 6-1. Freshman Michaela Stracar (Jericho, N.Y.) shined in a come-from-behind No. 6 singles win over Laryssa Ferreira, 3-6, 6-1, 10-4. Against Oklahoma on Feb. 20, 2009, the Nittany Lions fell to the Sooners, 6-1. Junior Lauren McCarthy (Danbury, Conn.) grabbed a Penn State point as she handled Kristina Radan, 6-3, 7-5.
The Nittany Lions return home next weekend to host No. 67 Marshall and No. 38 Boise State. Penn State squares off against the Thundering Herd Friday, Feb. 19 at 5 p.m. and against the Broncos on Sunday, Feb. 21 at noon at the Penn State Indoor Tennis Center off of Bigler Road. Admission to all Penn State home matches is free.