MANHATTAN, Kan. – The Penn State women's tennis team defeated Iowa State by a score of 4-3 in the squad's opening match on Sunday afternoon in a neutral site match at Kansas State University.
For the fifth consecutive year, the Nittany Lions will open the season 1-0.
"This season started a little different from previous seasons, beginning with matches against Power 5 schools," said head coach Alex Anghelescu. "We are beginning to change the culture and the girls have accepted the challenge. The work we have done so far has paid off. I cannot be prouder of the girls and how they competed today. This is just the first step of changing what we want to change."
Doubles
Penn State had a strong showing in doubles winning the doubles point 2-0 with the third match ending unfinished.
Gabby O'Gorman (Gunnedah, N.S. Wales, Australia) and Olivia Rohrbacher (Sandusky, Ohio) displayed their chemistry coming off of a strong season last year in a 6-4 victory over Christin Hsieh and Thasaporn Naklo.
Seniors Samantha Smith (Cary, N.C.) and Shannon Hanley (Kensington, Md.) secured a 6-3 win over Ting-Pei Chang and Maty Cancini.
Frederikke Svarre (Copenhagen, Denmark) and Olivia Ryan (Victoria, Australia) led 5-4 against Margarita Timakova and Chie Kezuka before the match was called.
Singles
O'Gorman came up just short in a back-and-forth three-set affair, losing by a score of 3-6, 7-5, 5-7 against Naklo.
Svarre was defeated by Cancini, 2-6, 6-7.
Rohrbacher secured a victory in a down to the wire 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 win over Hsieh.
Hanley dropped her match against Chang, 3-6, 1-6.
Ryan was victorious in a matchup against Kezuka, 6-2, 4-6, 6-3.
Smith came back from a deficit in a 6-7 (4), 6-0, 6-3 win over Timakova.
Up Next
The Nittany Lions will stay in Manhattan, Kan. for their next match tomorrow against Kansas State at noon.
Doubles Final
Gabby O'Gorman/Olivia Rohrbacher (PSU) def. Christin Hsieh/Thasaporn Naklo (ISU) 6-4
Samantha Smith/Shannon Hanley (PSU) def. Ting-Pei Chang/Maty Cancini (ISU) 6-3
Frederikke Svarre/Olivia Ryan (PSU) vs. Margarita Timakova/Chie Kezuka (ISU) 5-4, unfinished
Singles Final
Thasaporn Naklo (ISU) def. Gabby O'Gorman (PSU) 3-6, 7-5, 5-7
Maty Cancini (ISU) def. Frederikke Svarre (PSU) 2-6, 6-7 (0)
Olivia Rohrbacher (PSU) def. Christin Hsieh (ISU) 6-4, 4-6, 6-4
Ting-Pei Chang (ISU) def. Shannon Hanley (PSU) 3-6, 1-6
Olivia Ryan (PSU) def. Chie Kezuka (ISU) 6-2, 4-6, 6-3
Samantha Smith (PSU) def. Margarita Timakova (ISU) 6-7 (4), 6-0, 6-3
Order of Finish: (2,1,3,4,5,6)
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.
