Feb. 24, 2013
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Nittany Lions swept the singles competition to defeat the No. 49 Virginia Commonwealth Rams 6-1 at home Sunday afternoon.
"The team really battled out there today," said Head Coach Dawna Denny. "We did not take VCU lightly and knew it would be tough. These ladies stepped up and came together."
Despite dropping two of three doubles matches and going down 1-0 early to their first ranked opponent on the season, the Nittany Lions battled back winning each and every singles match resulting in a 6-1 victory over the tough squad from Richmond.
Petra Januskova and Chelsea Utting easily strolled to victory over Olga Barschevskaya and Daria Yakauleva in the No. 1 position winning, 8-1. VCU also won a quick match with their duo of Cindy Chala and Josefin Hjertquist knocking off Jacqueline Zuhse and Katherine Whiteaway 8-1 in the No. 2 doubles match.
The doubles point came down to the No. 3 doubles match between Carmen Sandor and Devan McCluskey and Salome Kvitashvili and Olga Terteac with each team recording a win. The Rams duo bested Penn State's previously undefeated pairing 8-6 clinching the doubles victory for Virginia Commonwealth.
Zuhse evened the match at one point apiece defeating Olga Terteac in straight sets 6-1, 6-1. It was her first time playing in the No. 3 singles position. After Kvitashvili pulled out of her singles match, McCluskey, ranked No. 18 in the region, faced off against Yukako Noi, winning 6-4, 7-5. Januskova notched her victory in singles topping Cindy Chala, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3.
Utting clinched the win for the Nittany Lions knocking off Josefin Hjertquist in three sets, 7-5, 4-6, 6-3. Along with Zuhse, Utting remains unbeaten in singles play on the spring having each won both of their matches this weekend.
Sandor and Sarah Henderson wasted no time getting their victories and closing out the match for Penn State, both winning in straight sets. Sandor toppled the region's No. 20 ranked player Barschevskaya 6-3, 6-3 before Henderson knocked off Karina Alesha 7-6 (4), 6-1 to give the Nittany Lions their 6-1 victory.
The win is the second straight over the Rams for the Nittany Lions and moves them to 4-5 all time in the series. Penn State will face another tough opponent next Sunday when they begin their conference schedule by traveling to Columbus to take on the Buckeyes. The match is set for a noon start.
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