Oct. 7, 2011
Houston, Texas - The Penn State women's tennis team began competition at the Rice Invitational in Houston today, sending three doubles pairs and six singles players into the draw.
In doubles action, Fernanda Perotta (Buenos Aires, Argentina) and Marie Bedard (Montreal, Canada) beat Kimberly Anicete and Leah Fried of Rice, 9-7. While Sarah Henderson (Bloomington, Ind.) and Maria Prishlyak (Kiev, Ukraine) were bested by Rice's Katie Gater and Dominque Harmath, 8-4. Chelsea Utting (Peachtree City, Ga.) and Nina Sertic (Zagrab, Croatia) lost to Kelsey Lawson and Caroline Neumann of DePaul, 8-6.
In the Blue Singles tournament Nina Sertic lost to Patricia Fargas of DePaul, 6-3, 7-6 (3) in the first round. The senior received a bye in the quarterfinal round and will face Tulane's Caroline Thornton in the semifinals.
In the opening round Chelsea Utting was bested by Juliana Gajic of Texas, 6-4, 4-0 retire, and lost to Caroline Maqnusson of Tulane 3-6, 7-6 (3), 10-6 in the quarterfinals.
Marie Bedard lost to Rice's Natalie Beazant 6-3, 6-1 in the first round. The sophomore battled LSU's Ariel Morton in the quarterfinals but lost 6-7 (4), 6-0, 14-12. Bedard will face teammate Utting in a consolation elimination match tomorrow.
In the Gray Singles tournament Fernanda Perrotta lost to Alex Martin of Texas, 7-5, 6-1 in the first round. In the quarterfinals the senior beat LSU's Paige Bahnsen, 6-3, 6-2.
Sarah Henderson was bested by Rice's Stephanie Nguyen, 6-0, 6-3 and LSU's Rebecca Bodine, 6-2, 6-2 in the first and second rounds, respectively.
Rounding out first day play, Maria Prishlyak lost to Kimberly Anicete of Rice, 6-2, 6-1 in the opening round. The senior bounced back in the quarterfinals and beat Hayley Everett of LSU, 6-2, 6-0.
The Nittany Lions will continue play tomorrow and Sunday.