Oct. 22, 2011
Norfolk, Va. - The Penn State women's tennis team excelled in the ITA Regional today. Six Nittany Lions competed in women's singles, consolation singles and doubles action.
In the singles opening round of 64, Chelsea Utting (Peachtree City, Ga.) beat Katie Kargl of William and Mary, 6-4, 6-2. She will play ninth-ranked Alex Bara of Virginia Commonwealth in the round of 32 tomorrow.
No. 8 Petra Januskova (Ottawa, Canada) entered the tournament as the only Nittany Lion ranked in singles play. The junior split the first two sets with Howard's Katelyn Stokes, 6-0, 4-6, and dominated the third set, 6-1 to earn the victory. She will face Welma Luus of Maryland tomorrow.
Marie Bedard (Montreal, Canada) won a close match 7-5, 6-4 against Casey Robinson of St. Joe's. The sophomore is slated to play seventh-ranked Li Xi of Virginia tomorrow.
Nina Sertic (Zagrab, Croatia) also pulled out an impressive win, 6-3, 6-1, against U.M.B.C.'s Carmen Jackson. She will face sixteen-ranked Cristina Stancu of Maryland in the round of 32 tomorrow.
After winning two matches yesterday in the qualifying tournament, Carmen Sandor (Toronta, Canada) was bested by fourth-ranked Erin Vierra of Virginia, 6-2, 6-1 in the opening round of singles play.
After competing in the qualifying round yesterday, Fernanda Perrotta (Buenos Aires, Argentina) played Temple's Paola Calderon in the qualifying consolation singles tournament. Calderon bested Perrotta in the round of 32, 6-3, 6-2.
In doubles action, Bedard and Sandor lost a close match to the No. 1 ranked pair of Lindsey Hardenbergh and Erin Vierra of Virginia, 8-5. Perrotta and Utting were also bested in a close match versus thirteenth-ranked Jordan Hansbrough and Cristina Stancu of Maryland, 8-6.
After receiving a bye in the first round of 64, Januskova and Sertic beat Kim Berghaus and Carmen Jackman of U.M.B.C. 8-3. The duo will play sixth-ranked Maria Fuccillo and Li Xi of Virginia in the doubles round of 16.
The ITA Regional will continue singles and doubles play tomorrow and will run until Tuesday. The entire Nittany Lion team will wrap up fall tournament play at the Western Michigan Super Challenge Nov. 4-6.