UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; September 17, 2016 -- The Penn State Women's Tennis Team completed its opening matches at the Midland Invitational. Competition continues through Sunday, September 18.
All eight players who traveled to Midland, Tex., competed in singles on Friday. Devan McCluskey (Phoenix, Az.) was victorious defeating Agustina Serio of University of Texas Arlington 7-5, 4-6, 6-2 and Julia Navajo of Texas State 6-2, 6-2. McCluskey is the only Penn Stater advancing to round 16 in singles. Jacqueline Zuhse (Boca Raton, Fla.) lost in straight sets to Pardis Zahra Kianoush of University of University of Birmingham 6-4, 6-0 and Alexis Thoma of North Texas 7-6(5), 6-0. Katia Blik (Moscow, Russia) won against Alex Jones of Texas State 6-1,6-2, but fell to Whitney Williams of Aibelene Christian University 6-2, 6-4. Dasha Sapogova (Belarus, Minsk) won against Diana Wang of New Mexico 6-4, 1-6, 6-1, but lost to Maria Kononova of North Texas.
Samantha Smith (Cary, N.C.) lost to Talisa Merchiers of Lamar 6-3, 7-6(3) and won against Hana Sisirak of University of Alabama Birmingham 6-2, 6-1. Shannon Hanley (Kensington, Md.) lost to Marlene Hermann of University of Alabama Birmingham 7-6(4), 5-7, 6-4. Taylor Shukow (Boca Raton, Fla.) fell to Sabrina Federici of Texas Tech 6-2, 6-0 and Anna Perez of Texas State 6-2, 6-3. Bennett Dunn (Orlando, Fla.) lost to Rati Matysova of Nebraska 6-0, 4-6, 6-4 and defeated Yadira Rubio of Texas State 6-0, 5-7, 1-0(4).
Head Coach Chris Cagle commented on the team's performance of the first day. "Coach Fenwick and I saw some areas that we did really well in today and some areas we will work on this week in practice. Overall for our first day of tournament play this fall we improved as the day went along. I am excited to see the team get back on the courts tomorrow and take another step forward."
Penn State also had four doubles teams compete on Friday. (Shukow, Sapogova) lost to Matysova/Bangoura of Nebraska 8-6. (Smith, Hanley) doubles matched was stopped vs de los Rios/Wichert 1-6 deuce and will finish later today. (Zuhse, Dunn) defeated Wong/Chung of New Mexico 8-7(5). (McCluskey, Blik) lost to Asghar/Moore of Tyler Junior College 8-6.
McCluskey will play in the Round of 16 in singles and Jacqueline Zuhse and Bennett Dunn compete in the Round of 16 in doubles when play continues later today.
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