April 15, 2010
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; - The Penn State women's tennis team (4-13, 0-6 Big Ten) travels west this weekend to take on conference rivals No. 38 Indiana (13-6, 3-3 Big Ten) and No. 26 Illinois (11-7, 5-1 Big Ten). The Nittany Lions and the Hoosiers square off in Bloomington in Saturday at 11 a.m., followed by a noon match in Champaign on Sunday.
Last weekend, the Nittany Lions fell to No. 3 Michigan and Michigan State on the road. Freshman Amy Simidian (Carlstadt, N.J.) shined against the Spartans, defeating Michaela Silesova in three sets on the No. 1 court, 4-6, 6-4, 6-2. In first doubles, Simidian and senior partner Sarah Lotto (Toronto, Ontario) edged Nicole Herzog and Whitney Wilson, 9-7.
The Indiana Hoosiers are currently 13-6 overall and 3-3 in the Big Ten. The team is led by two newcomers this season, freshman Leslie Hureau and sophomore Cal State-Northridge transfer Evgeniya Vertesheva. Hureau is 5-6 on the No. 1 court and 6-2 in second singles, while Vertesheva is 4-4 in the top spot and 8-3 at No. 2. Indiana's biggest win this season was a 6-1 victory over then-No. 10 Tennessee.
Last year, then-No. 38 Indiana came away with a 6-1 win over Penn State in Happy Valley on April 10, 2009. Senior Dorothy Donahics nabbed a point for the Nittany Lions with a 6-4, 6-4 victory over Sigrid Fischer on the No. 4 court.
The No. 26 Fighting Illini moved up from a No. 36 ranking after defeating Minnesota and No. 22 Iowa last weekend. Illinois is currently 11-7 and 5-1 in conference play. Senior Megan Fudge is ranked No. 90 nationally in singles. She is 8-2 playing in first singles and 6-2 in the No. 2 spot this spring. Fudge and redshirt junior Leigh Finnegan, the nation's No. 51 doubles tandem, are 7-3 overall this season.
Last season, then-No. 36 Illinois defeated Penn State in its final home match of the season, 7-0.
The Nittany Lions return to Happy Valley next weekend for their final two regular season matches. They will face No. 9 Northwestern on Saturday, April 24 at 11 a.m. and Wisconsin on Sunday, April 25 at 10 a.m. The matches will be held outdoors at the Sarni Tennis Center, weather permitting. Penn State will then take part in the Big Ten Championship Tournament, Thursday, April 29 through Sunday, May 2 at the University of Iowa.