Feb. 25, 2010
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Penn State women's tennis team continues its stretch of nationally ranked opponents as it travels to Richmond, Va. this weekend to take on the Virginia Commonwealth Rams on Saturday at 3 p.m. VCU is the third team in a five-match stretch of nationally ranked opponents on Penn State's schedule.
"This is a week of adjustments to make to ensure we are ready for VCU on the road," said head coach Dawna Prevette. "They are extremely tough and we need to be prepared."
Last weekend, freshman Petra Januskova (Ottawa, Canada) upset two nationally ranked singles opponents. In Sunday's 5-2 loss to No. 35 Boise State, Januskova handled No. 27 Pichittra Thongdach in straight sets, 6-0, 7-5, despite falling behind 3-5 in the second set. She also topped Marshall's No. 42 Michaela Kissell in first singles, 6-4, 6-2, in Penn State's 6-1 loss to the Thundering Herd. With sophomore partner Maria Prishlyak (Kiev, Ukraine), the freshman nabbed an 8-4 doubles victory over Marshall's Isabell Raich and Kara Kucin. Senior Lauren McCarthy (Danbury, Conn.) picked up her second singles win of the spring season as she dropped Boise State's Marlena Pietzuch, 6-4, 7-6.
The No. 29 VCU Rams are coming off five consecutive victories and are 8-2 on the season. Seniors Olena Leonchuk and Laura Burns are each 8-1 this spring. Freshman Josefin Hjertquist has been playing in the No. 2 position and has compiled a 6-2 record. Head Coach Paul Kostin is in his ninth season at the helm of the VCU women's tennis team with a 146-35 overall record.
Penn State is 2-3 all-time against VCU. In their last meeting, the Nittany Lions fell to then-No. 34 Rams at home, 5-2. Then-freshman Maria Prishlyak (Kiev, Ukraine) picked up a tight 8-7(5) No. 1 doubles win with partner Monika Mical over Alex Bara and Ana Bara. In third singles, then-sophomore Denisa Zobeideh (Weston, Fla.) put up a fight before being edged by Alex Bara in three sets, 4-6, 7-6(5), 6-1.
Penn State returns home the next weekend to resume Big Ten play against Ohio State on Friday, March 5 at 3 p.m. The Lions are home again the following day to take on the Temple Owls at 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 6. Live statistics will now be available for all Penn State home matches on the women's tennis page at www.GoPSUSports.com