UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.--The Penn State Women's Tennis team concluded day 2 of both the Wahoowa and Hokie Fall Invitational with solid play in Virginia on Saturday morning. Continuing through Sunday, the Nittany Lions look to start their fall season on a high note.
Wahoowa Invitational
Singles
Splitting the Wahoowa Invitational singles competition, Penn State went 2-2 on the day. Finishing both their opponents in two games, Olivia Ryan and Gabrielle O'Gorman defeated Kansas players Julia Deming and Mariana Manyoma-Velasquez. Sofiya Chekhlystova lost her second match of the season falling to Auburn's Georgie Axon, 7-3, 6-2.
In another loss to Auburn, Alexandra Nielsen battled hard but was ultimately defeated by Auburn's Anastasia Astakhova in a three-game loss, finishing 6-4, 4-6, 10-5.
Doubles
In doubles competition, Penn State fell in both matches to tough competition. Deming and Manyoma-Velasquez of Kansas felled Nielson and Chekhylstova, 6-2, while O'Gorman and Ryan were defeated 6-4 by Auburn's Selin Ovunc and Astakhova.
Hokie Fall Invitational
Singles
Starting the day off hot, Nina Stankovska defeated Liberty University's Maretha Burger in two 6-4 games. Yvonna Zuffova accomplished the same feat in a decisive 6-3, 6-2 win over East Tennessee State's Laylo Bakhodirova.
Alina Lebedeva and Karly Friedland continued the trend with wins over West Virginia State's Chante Malo and East Tennesse State's Emilia Alfaro. All four Nittany Lions will move on in tournament play.
Doubles
Penn State also found success in doubles play on Saturday. Defeating Radford's Salma Loudili and Melissa Ifidzhen, Stankovska and Lebedeva won their match 8-2. Friedland and Zuffova also saw success in their 8-5 win over VCU's Gabriela Davidescu and Anja Draskovic.
The Nittany Lions wills continue their play in the Wahoowa and Hokie Fall Invitationals on Sunday, September 19.