Feb. 4, 2015
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.- The Penn State women's tennis team opened their home slate of matches by defeating Pittsburgh 5-2. Victoria Kisialeva (Toronto, Canada) defeated Audrey Ann Blakely 6-1, 6-2. Katia Blik (Moscow, Russia) notched a straight sets victory over Lolade Ogungbesan. Devan McCluskey (Phoenix, Ariz.) clinched the match with her 7-5, 6-4 victory over Molly WIckman. Samantha Tutelman beat Amanda Wickman 6-3, 6-2. Kim Surin battled hard for three sets and came away with the 7-5, 4-6, 6-2 victory over Amber Washington.
"I felt like the team competed well tonight," said Head Coach Chris Cagle. "We played a tough Pitt team and they brought it as well so for us to come through in singles and play really well is gratifying."
Penn State lost the doubles point as both the second and third doubles teams fell. Kisialeva and Sapogova defeated Ogungbesan and Callie Frey 6-1. McCluskey and Surin's five match wins streak was halted by Katherine Castro and Blakely 6-2. Jacqueline Zuhse and Katherine Whiteaway were tripped up by Washington and Wickman 6-4.
"To come back in singles and have the first four matches all win the first set, that was big for us to get the momentum rolling," said Cagle. "We know Northwestern is a top program not just in our conference but one of the better teams in the country. Every match this year is going to be just like today. It's going to be a battle and we will keep fighting and be ready to play."
The Nittany Lions are next in action February 14 as Penn State travels to Evanston, Ill. to take on the No. 22 Northwestern Wildcats. The Nittany Lions return home a week later when Columbia and VCU visit Happy Valley February 20 and February 22, respectively. Stay up to date with Penn State Women's Tennis on Facebook at Penn State Women's Tennis and on twitter @pennstateWTEN.
Singles Results: Order of Finish (1, 3, 2, 4, 5, 6)
1) Kisialeva def. Blakely (Pitt) 6-1, 6-2
2) Ogungbesan (Pitt) def. Sapogova 4-6, 6-1, 6-3
3) Blik def. Frey (Pitt) 6-4, 6-4
4) Surin def. Washington (Pitt) 7-5, 4-6, 6-2
5) McCluskey def. M. Wickman (Pitt) 7-5, 6-4
6) Tutelman def. A. Wickman (Pitt) 6-3, 6-2
Doubles Results: Order of Finish (1, 2, 3)
1) Kisialeva/Sapogova def. Ogungbesan/Frey (Pitt) 6-1
2) Castro/Blakely (Pitt) def. Surin/McCluskey 6-2
3) Washington/M. Wickman (Pitt) def. Zuhse/Whiteaway 6-4