March 30, 2018
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.-- The Penn State women's tennis team took on the Michigan State Spartans this evening in a Big Ten match at the Indoor Tennis Center. The Spartans defeated the Nittany Lions, 5-2, in a tightly contested match.
A new look doubles lineup for the Nittany Lions, showed immediate success going 2-0 in to clinch the point. Samantha Smith (Cary, N.C.) and Shannon Hanley (Kensington, Md.) defeated Emily Metcalf and Davina Nguyen 6-3. Bennett Dunn (Orlando, Fla.) and Gabby O'Gorman (Gunnedah, N.S. Wales, Australia) clinched the doubles point with a 6-2 win over Ava Thielman and Lexi Baylis. Frederikke Svarre (Copenhagen, Denmark) and Olivia Rohrbacher (Sandusky, Ohio) were up 4-3 over Habiba Shaker and Sara Kuuttila when play ended.
In singles the team went, 1-5, with two matches going to a third set. Svarre was locked in a tight battle with Aslina Chua, forcing a third set, but ultimately falling, 7-5, 4-6, 6-3. Hanley was defeated by Shaker, 7-6, 6-1. O'Gorman fell to Kuuttila, 6-1, 6-4. Smith had the lone singles win with dominating showing in straight sets over Metcalf, 6-4, 6-2. Dunn also forced her match to a third set, but came up just short against Nguyen, 2-6, 6-1, 6-4. Hanna Wikberg (Stockholm, Sweden) took on Memije, losing, 6-2, 6-3.
"We knew Michigan State would be a tough match," said head coach Chris Cagle. "It was pretty much exactly what we thought it would be. I give them credit, they fought back in singles. It is disappointing letting the lead slip in our house, and one that we had a pretty good grasp on at one point. But, this is college tennis and you have to embrace playing under pressure and enjoy it or else it will be a tough deal for you. We've got a quick turnaround with Michigan, they're good, but so are we. I look forward to a tough match, Sunday morning."
The team moves to 6-9 on the season and 1-3 in the Big Ten. The Nittany Lions will next be in action on Sunday Apr. 1 at 11:00 a.m. in the Indoor Tennis Center against No. 30 Michigan.
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.
Doubles Final:
- Samantha Smith/Shannon Hanley (PSU) def. Emily Metcalf/Davina Nguyen (MSU) 6-3
- Frederikke Svarre/Olivia Rohrbacher (PSU) vs. Habiba Shaker/Sara Kuuttila (MSU) 4-3, unfinished
- Bennett Dunn/Gabby O'Gorman (PSU) def. Ava Thielman/Lexi Baylis (MSU) 6-2
Singles Final:
- Aslina Chua (MSU) def. Frederikke Svarre (PSU) 7-5, 4-6, 6-3
- Habiba Shaker (MSU) def. Shannon Hanley (PSU) 7-6, 6-1
- Sara Kuuttila (MSU) def. Gabby O'Gorman (PSU) 6-1, 6-4
- Samantha Smith (PSU) def. Emily Metcalf (MSU) 6-4, 6-2
- Davina Nguyen (MSU) def. Bennett Dunn (PSU) 2-6, 6-1, 6-4
- Samantha Memije (MSU) def. Hanna Wikberg (PSU) 6-2, 6-4