Sept. 20, 2015 UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.- The second day of 2015-16 season opening tournaments concluded today for Penn State. The split team sent seven players to the Mizzou Invitational in Kansas City, Mo., and five to The Racquet Club of Midland Invitational. Both tournaments end tomorrow, Sunday, September 20th.
In the Mizzou Invitational today the Nittany Lions took on Nebraska and Louisville in doubles matches. The Penn State team also played Missouri in singles as well as a few extra matches for the Nittany Lions against additional opponents.
The afternoon singles contest between Penn State and Missouri in Kansas City would prove to be a competitive contest for both teams. Missouri pulled ahead early with wins at numbers 5 and 6 singles as Kelly Mengel and Liyin Xu fell to their opponents. Katia Blik was the next match off court as she fell 7-6(5), 6-1 at number one singles. Shortly after Dasha Sapogova dropped a three set contest 2-6, 6-3, 6-1. Taylor Shukow compeleted a come from behind win with a 2-6, 6-4, 6-2 victory at number four singles. Samantha Tutelman played the last match on against Missouri and fell 1-6, 6-2, 7-6(2) in a high quality match up from both ends. Hannah Kratky fell to a Nebraska opponent to round out the afternoon of singles play.
In morning doubles competition in Kansas City, the Nittany Lions took two of three doubles matches against Nebraska. Katia Blik and Kelly Mengel were victorious at number two doubles 6-2 to start the day of on a strong note. Nebraska took the next match off with a 6-3 victory at number one doubles over Samantha Tutelman and Dasha Sapogova. That was followed by a comeback win with Taylor Shukow and Liyin Xu coming back from a 1-4 deficit to win 7-5 versus Nebraska. The first round of morning competition was capped off with a closely fought match between Hannah Kratky and her Nebraska opponent in singles. Against Louisville the doubles matches were hard fought with Louisville winning at numbers two and three and the team of Samantha Tutelman and Dasha Sapogova winning at number one doubles for Penn State.
Coach Cagle commented on the second day performance in Kansas City, Mo., "Today I saw some really good things from our team and some areas we will continue to work on. That is what the fall is built around. I anticipate our seven players in Kansas City being really fired up to compete tomorrow! I know the players in Midland will be the same way!"
Today in Midland, Texas at the Racquet Club of Midland Invitational the Nittany Lions played against The University of Alabama at Birmingham, with the exception of Kathrine Whiteaway who took on a competitor, Jessica Birowski, from the University Texas-Arlington in her singles match and fell 7-6(10), 6-4.
Penn State won two of their three singles matches against Alabama Birmingham during their second day in Midland, today. Emily Rivers fell to Amy Lowther. Devan McCluskey and Jacqueline Zuhse both turned out wins to advance over Alabama Birmingham competitors in their singles matches, McClusky 6-2,7-5 against Pardis Kianoush and Zuhse 6-3,6-1, against Alex Corder. The Penn State doubles pairings of McCluskey/Surin and Zuhse/Whiteaway dropped close contests to their competitors from Alabama Birmingham.
Coach Fenwick said, "We came here to get good competition and match experience, and that's exactly what we are getting here in Midland."
Keep up with Penn State women's Tennis as they continue their 2015-16 season opening weekends at GoPSUSports.com Check out the Penn State women's tennis team on social media by "liking" them on Facebook and following them on Twitter @PennStateWTEN
