Women's Tennis to Participate in ITA Kickoff Weekend Beginning SaturdayWomen's Tennis to Participate in ITA Kickoff Weekend Beginning Saturday
Mark Selders

Women's Tennis to Participate in ITA Kickoff Weekend Beginning Saturday

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. —For the first time since 2016, Penn State women's tennis (2-1) will participates in ITA Kickoff Weekend this Saturday, hosted by NC State. Competition will conclude Sunday.

Penn State's match against Bucknell, originally scheduled for Friday, Jan. 28, has been postponed. The Nittany Lions will now face Bucknell at home at 5 p.m. as the second match of a doubleheader on Sunday, March 6. Penn State will face Penn at noon on March 6. 

About ITA Kickoff Weekend: 

This will be the 13th annual ITA Kickoff Weekend event, which takes place at 15 facilities around the country. The event features 15, four-team brackets, totaling 60 of the top tennis programs in the country. The Nittany Lions will face No. 8 NC State (3-0) to start the weekend and will face either Wake Forest (1-1) or Northwestern (0-1) in the following match. Penn State's matchup with the Wolfpack will take place at 11 a.m. on Saturday. The consolation match will begin at 11a.m. on Sunday, followed by the winner's bracket match at 2 p.m. to conclude the tournament. 

This weekend will mark the second time Penn State has participated in ITA Kickoff Weekend with the other year coming in 2016 (at Vanderbilt). 

Last Time Out: 

The Nittany Lions defeated the Syracuse Orange on the road Sunday, Jan. 23, 5-2. 

In doubles play the Nittany Lions secured an early lead with wins from duo Karly Friedland and Alexandra Nielsen, 6-2. Partners Sofiya Chekhlystova and Gabby O'Gorman were also victorious over their opponents in a close 6-4 match. 

Penn State extended their lead in singles play. Yvonne Zuffova defeated her opponent in a straight two set match, 6-0, 6-1. Gabby O'Gorman clinched the match for Penn State earned by a 6-0, 6-4 victory. Sofiya Chekhlystova added to her undefeated win by a match score of 6-2, 6-1. Alexandra Nielsen won the last point for the Nittany Lions in a close match, 7-6 (7-3), 6-7 (0-7), 1-0 (10-3). 


ITA Kick-Off Weekend Schedule  

Saturday at 11 a.m.: No. 8 NC State vs. Penn State 

Saturday at 2 p.m.: Northwestern vs. Wake Forest 

Sunday at 11 a.m.: Consolation Match

Sunday at 2 p.m.: Winner's Match

Live Streaming and Statistics 

Live Streaming Link: https://web.track.tennis/events/watch?key=688.TsKgsjubxFU#/ 

Live Statistics Link: http://sidearmstats.com/ncsu/wten/xlive.htm 

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.