April 13, 2013
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The No. 38 Nittany Lions (13-4, 3-5 Big Ten) couldn't pull off the upset despite winning all three matches against ranked opponents, falling to No. 16 Northwestern (12-8, 6-2 Big Ten) 5-2.
Petra Januskova and Chelsea Utting led the Nittany Lions winning all of their matches against the Wildcats. In doubles Penn State fell down early 1-0 when Veronica Corning and Alicia Barnett bested Carmen Sandor and Devan McCluskey in the No. 2 match, 8-1. Januskova and Utting quickly evened the contest knocking off the No. 9 duo in the nation, Linda Abu Mushrefova and Nida Hamilton, 8-5.
Northwestern secured the match's first point that rested on the result of the No. 3 doubles match. Penn State got off to an early lead in the match leading 4-3 but could not outlast the Wildcats third duo. Belinda Niu and Kate Turvy won the final five games to earn the 8-4 victory over Marie-Frederique Bedard and Jacqueline Zuhse.
In singles the Nittany Lions faced two nationally ranked opponents as well as two more regionally ranked players from Northwestern. Utting upset No. 55 Kate Turvy 6-2, 6-2 to tie the match 1-1. The win was the 60th career singles victory for Utting. Barnett put the Wildcats back in the lead knocking off Sandor at No. 5, 6-2, 6-4.
Penn State tied the match once more when Januskova knocked off No. 106 Corning, 6-4, 6-4. Januskova's singles win was the 90th of her career. She needs only five more to tie Olga Novikova for most singles wins all-time with 95.
Northwestern regained the lead when Hamilton defeated Bedard 6-2, 6-4. The No. 3 and No. 4 matches began last and started once courts cleared from the first set of matches. In the No. 3 match Zuhse fell behind early in both sets and couldn't make up the difference late, falling to Niu 6-3, 6-2. The win clinched the match victory for the Wildcats. Abu Mushrefova topped McCluskey at No. 4, 6-2, 6-3 to end the match.
With the win the Wildcats remain undefeated against the Nittany Lions all-time. The Nittany Lions will return to action tomorrow when they host the No. 59 Illinois Fighting Illini at Sarni Indoor Tennis Center at 10 a.m.
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