MIDLAND, Texas-- The Penn State women's tennis team got the fall season started today at the Racquet Club Collegiate Invitational. Gabby O'Gorman (Gunnedah, N.S. Wales, Australia) shined with two singles wins on the day to advance in the main draw.
Three Nittany Lions had singles wins on day one of the tournament. O'Gorman got things started and cruised to a win over Vanessa Valdez of UTEP, 6-2, 6-3. She then took on the No. 8 seed, Sydney Jones of Texas Tech, and came away with a 6-3, 6-2, win.
Chelsea Sawyer (Clemmons, N.C.) was the tournament's No. 4 seed. In the round of 32, Sawyer defeated Hana Sisirak of the University of Alabama Birmingham, 7-5, 7-5. Sawyer then took on Hannah Jones of Utah State, and fell, 6-0, 6-3.
Frederikke Svarre (Copenhagen, Denmark) fell to Alexandra Pisareva of Utah State, 6-1, 6-0. In the back draw, Svarre took on Dominika Hrabalova of the University of Alabama Birmingham, where she fell, 6-3, 6-3.
Samantha Smith (Cary, N.C.) had a dominating 6-0, 6-1 win over Stephanie Pitts of Abilene Christian University. In the round of 16, Smith lost to the No. 6 seed, Olivia Peet of Texas Tech, 7-6, 6-2.
In doubles, the new pairings of Sawyer/O'Gorman and Svarre/Smith went 2-0 on the day. Svarre and Smith took on Martinez and Baigorria of UTEP, winning, 8-2. Sawyer and O'Gorman defeated Collins and DiLaura of Texas Tech, 8-5.
"Today was an overall good day for our team," said assistant coach Alexandra Anghelescu. "We had our challenges in singles and dealing with the environment. However, there were a lot of takeaways from today that will push us to improve and be ready for the new season. It was great for me to finally see some of our girls in action and see the potential and talent that this team can offer this coming year. Coach Cagle and I are very excited for the opportunities that lay ahead for this team."
Play will continue tomorrow on day two of the Racquet Club Collegiate Invitational.
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