March 10, 2018
LAKE NONA, Fla.-- The Penn State women's tennis team fell, 5-2 against No. 25 UCF. After securing the doubles point, the team fought hard in several singles matches, but came up just short of knocking-off a ranked opponent.
In doubles, the team went 2-0 to secure the point. Bennett Dunn (Orlando, Fla.) and Shannon Hanley (Kensington, Md.) went up against, Ksenia Kuznetsova and Maria Martinez, the pair was down 5-4 when play ended. Samantha Smith (Cary, N.C.) and Gabby O'Gorman (Gunnedah, N.S. Wales, Australia) defeated Silvia Bordes and Rebeka Stolmar, 6-4. Frederikke Svarre (Copenhagen, Denmark) and Hanna Wikberg (Stockholm, Sweden) clinched the doubles point, with a win over Monica Matias and Natalia Serrano, 7-5.
In singles, the Nittany Lions went 1-5, pushing two matches to the third set. Svarre fell to Kuznetsova, 6-3, 7-5. O'Gorman pushed her match to the third set against Martinez, coming up just short, 1-6, 7-5, 6-1. Hanley fell in a tight battle with No. 92 Stolmar, that ended in a third set tie-break, 2-6, 7-5, 11-9. Dunn fell to Matias, 6-3, 6-2. Smith got the lone singles win, defeating Serrano, 6-2, 6-4. Wikberg fell to Bordes, 6-3, 6-2.
"Honestly, today I am conflicted," said head coach Chris Cagle. "There is no doubt we are getting better every week. That shows with our matches today against UCF at their place. At the same time, I feel like we let one slip away today. We will keep working and I know we are getting ready to finish off these matches. We have a quick turnaround with Iowa coming to us on Wednesday. We look forward to getting home and getting ready for Wednesday."
The team is now 5-7 on the season and 0-1 in the Big Ten. Up next, the Nittany Lions will host another Big Ten opponent, Iowa, on Wednesday, Mar. 14 at 6:00 p.m.
Keep up with the Penn State women's tennis team at GoPSUsports.com. For continued updates throughout the year, make sure to `like' our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/pennstatewten and follow our twitter @pennstateWTEN.
Singles Final:
- Ksenia Kuznetsova (UCF-W) def. Frederikke Svarre (PSU) 6-3, 7-5
- Maria Martinez (UCF-W) def. Gabby O'Gorman (PSU) 1-6, 7-5, 6-1
- #92 Rebeka Stolmar (UCF-W) def. Shannon Hanley (PSU) 2-6, 7-5, 11-9
- Monica Matias (UCF-W) def. Bennett Dunn (PSU) 6-3, 6-2
- Samantha Smith (PSU) def. Natalia Serrano (UCF-W) 6-2, 6-4
- Silvia Bordes (UCF-W) def. Hanna Wikberg (PSU) 6-3, 6-2
Doubles Final:
- Ksenia Kuznetsova/Maria Martinez (UCF-W) vs. Bennett Dunn/Shannon Hanley (PSU) unfinished
- Samantha Smith/Gabby O'Gorman (PSU) def. Silvia Bordes/Rebeka Stolmar (UCF-W) 6-4
- Frederikke Svarre/Hanna Wikberg (PSU) def. Monica Matias/Natalia Serrano (UCF-W) 7-5