March 18, 2016
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa ââ'¬" The Penn State women's tennis team (4-8, 0-2) fell in their second Big Ten conference match today against No. 50 Minnesota (10-2, 2-0), 5-2.
"We lost to a tough Minnesota team today," said coach Cagle, "The doubles was a key part of the match. We have a quick turn around before we host Wisconsin. We will work tomorrow to prepare and then get back on court Sunday for our match."
At the start of singles play, the Gophers defeated Jacqueline Zuhse (Boca Raton, Fla.) at No. 3 6-2, 6-1, and Katherine Whiteaway (Sawbridgeworth, England) at No. 5 6-3, 6-1. Then, Dasha Sapogova (Belarus, Minsk) answered with a Nittany Lion win against Jessika Mozia 6-2, 7-5. Samantha Tutelman (New York, NY) fell at No. 6 singles 6-2, 7-6(2) just moments before Katia Blik (Moscow, Russia) defeated Julia Courter 7-5, 6-7(6), 1-0(6), securing another singles point for Penn State. Kim Surin (Montreal, Canada) took on Minnesota's Caroline Ryba ranked at No. 102. Ryba clinched her sixth consecutive match at No. 1 singles against Surin after a closely contested three set match 1-6, 6-1, 6-3.
In doubles play, Zuhse and Whiteaway fell at No. 2, and Tutelman and Blik fell at No. 3 6-2. It was too late for the Nittany Lions to secure the doubles point when McCluckey and Surin secured a 6-4 defeat over Paula Rincon-Otero and Annemarie Emme.
Penn State will travel back to Happy Valley for their third conference match of the season against Wisconsin Sunday, March 20. Fans are encouraged to follow the Penn State women's tennis team on twitter @PennStateWTEN and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/PennStateWTEN.