UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.—Penn State women's tennis (10-9, 4-3 B1G) defeated No. 50 Illinois (13-7, 6-2 B1G), 4-3, in a Big Ten conference matchup on Sunday afternoon.
The match came down to Alina Lebedeva winning her match on court No. 6, 6-0, 6-1.
"It was the first time for me when the match came down to my court," said Lebedeva. "I won and honestly, it was one of the greatest feelings to clinch the match for my team and see how happy every one of my teammates was!"
DOUBLES
The Nittany Lions captured an early lead over The Fighting Illini in doubles play, earning victories on courts No. 2 and 3.
Duo, Gabby O'Gorman and Alexandra Nielsen swept Emily Casati and Kasia Treiber on court No. 3, 6-0. The doubles point was clinched on court No. 2 by partners Yvonne Zuffova and Olivia Ryan, 6-3, over Josie Frazier and Ashley Yeah.
Court No. 1 was left unfinished with a 5-3 Illinois lead by Kate Doung and Megan Heuser over Penn State's Sofiya Chekhlystova and Karly Friedland.
SINGLES
Penn State and Illinois went back and forth in singles play, with the Nittany Lions earning victories on courts No. 1, 3 and 6.
O'Gorman defeated Frazier, 6-1, in straight sets on court No. 3 to increase the lead for the Nittany Lions, 2-0.
The match was quickly tied at 2-2 after Illinois picked up a 6-3, 7-6 win from Yeah over Zuffova on court No. 2. Illinois secured another victory on court No. 4, 6-3, 7-5 between Heuser and Friedland.
Chekhlystova captured a hard-fought win in three sets over Duong on court No. 1. Chekhlystova took the first set 6-2, fell short 5-7 in the second, but claimed victory in the third, 6-2.
The match was clinched on court No. 6 by Lebedeva in straight sets over Shivani Ingle, 6-0, 6-1.
Penn State 4, Illinois 3
Doubles Results
1. Sofiya Chekhlystova/Karly Friedland (PSU) vs. Kate Duong/Megan Heuser (ILL), 3-5, unfinished
2. Olivia Ryan/Yvonne Zuffova (PSU) def. Josie Frazier/Ashley Yeah (ILL), 6-3
3. Alexandra Nielsen/Gabby O'Gorman (PSU) def. Emily Casati/Kasia Treiber (ILL), 6-0
Order of finish: 3,2
Singles Results
1. Sofiya Chekhlystova (PSU) def. Kate Duong (ILL), 6-2, 5-7, 6-2
2. Ashley Yeah (ILL) def. Yvonne Zuffova (PSU), 6-3, 7-6 (7-0)
3. Gabby O'Gorman (PSU) def. Josie Frazier (ILL), 6-1, 6-1
4. Megan Heuser (ILL) def. Karly Friedland (PSU), 6-3, 7-5
5. Kasia Treiber (ILL) def. Alexandra Nielsen (PSU), 6-2, 6-4
6. Alina Lebedeva (PSU) def. Shivani Ingle (ILL), 6-0, 6-1
Order of finish: 3,2,4,1,5,6
UP NEXT
Penn State will travel to Madison next Friday at 5 p.m. to face the Wisconsin Badgers.
Keep up with the Penn State women's tennis team at GoPSUsports.com. For continued updates throughout the year, make sure to 'like' Penn State women's tennis on Facebook at www.facebook.com/pennstatewten and follow-on Twitter at @pennstateWTEN.
