March 29, 2014
URBANA, Ill. - The Nittany Lions (4-12, 0-4 Big Ten) fell to No. 37 Illinois (9-6, 2-2 Big Ten) at the Atkins Tennis Center Saturday afternoon, 6-1. Penn State won it's first doubles point in Big Ten play this season to take an early lead but the Fighting Illini pulled away in singles to win the match.
Penn State took early leads at the No. 1 and No. 2 matches to start the match. After Illinois swept the No. 3 match, 8-0, Carmen Sandor (Toronto, Canada) and Katherine Whiteaway (Sawbridgeworth, England) immediately responded with an 8-2 victory over Misia Kedzierski and Alexis Casati in the No. 2 match to even the doubles competition.
Playing together for only the second time, Katia Blik (Moscow, Russia) and Dasha Sapogova (Minsk, Belarus) were able to hold off the late push from the Fighting Illini's top duo. After taking an early lead, Melissa Kopinski and Louise Kwong tied the match at seven game each. The Nittany Lions pair was able to win the decisive fifteenth game of the match and put Penn State ahead early.
Illinois found their groove in the singles session winning all six matches in two sets. Misia Kedzierski tied the match at one point apiece with a 6-0, 6-0 win against Lisa Petruzillo (Muttontown, NY) in the No. 6 match. Louise Kwong knocked off Taylor Shukow (Boca Raton, Fla.) in the No. 4 match, 6-2, 6-1 to give Illinois their first lead in the match.
Allison Falkin topped Sapogova 6-2, 6-2 at No. 1 and Blik was defeated 6-1, 6-4 at No. 2 to give Illinois their third and fourth point and clinch the victory. Melissa Kopinski notched the win at No. 3 over Sandor winning 6-1, 6-4.
After battling in the first set to make it 5-4, Whiteaway wasn't able to finish the comeback dropping the set 6-4 before falling in the second set to Jerricka Boone to close out the match 6-3.
For only the second time this season the Nittany Lions failed to win the match after winning the doubles point. The first time came against Marshall on Feb. 14 when they fell 4-3.
The Nittany Lions return to the courts tomorrow to face No. 11 Northwestern in Evanston, Ill. The match is slated to start at noon EST, 11 a.m. CDT.
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