UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Penn State Women’s Tennis (13-4, 4-3 B1G) earned an incredible 4-3 victory against No. 14 USC (9-4, 3-2 B1G) on Friday afternoon in Happy Valley. It is the highest-ranked win in at least 20 years for the Penn State women’s tennis program.
The Nittany Lions secured the doubles point in dramatic fashion, winning hotly contested matches on courts two and three. At the three spot, the freshmen duo of Jelena Vico and Maria Daciana Ciubotaru took down Emma Charney and Parker Fry, 7-5. On court two, Jordina Cegarra and Patricia Grigoras clinched the point with a 7-5 victory over Jana Hossam and Sloane Morra.
On court one, Olivia Dorner and Maiko Uchijima fell to No. 5 Lily Fairclough and Grace Piper in a 3-6 decision.
Shortly after singles began, the match moved inside to the Indoor Tennis Center due to inclement weather. The weather would not halt Penn State’s momentum as the team won three singles matches to pick up the spectacular win.
Dorner started singles action with a monumental, ranked victory on court one. She defeated No. 46 Piper, 6-4, 6-4, for the team’s first ranked singles win of the season. Grigoras pushed the advantage to 3-0 in favor of the Nittany Lions with a thrilling, three-set win over Fairclough. She triumphed, 6-4, 2-6, 6-1, on court three.
The Trojans would respond with three consecutive singles wins. Uchijima fell, 5-7, 4-6 to No. 69 Charney on court two. At the four spot, Vico dropped a 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 match to No. 82 Immi Haddad. On court five, Cegarra fell to Jana Hossam 4-6, 7-6, 2-6.
Ciubotaru clinched the match with a dominant third set. She earned a 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 victory against Maia Sung before being swarmed by her teammates in celebration.
Penn State is back in action on Sunday against No. 24 UCLA in Happy Valley. All fans in attendance can receive free donuts and have the opportunity to win a tennis racket.
Follow along with the Nittany Lions on X, @PennStateWTEN, and on Instagram, @pennstatewtennis.
Results
Doubles
1. No. 5 Lily Fairclough/Grace Piper (USC) def. Olivia Dorner/Maiko Uchijima (PSU): 6-3
2. Jordina Cegarra/Patricia Grigoras (PSU) def. Jana Hossam/Sloane Morra (USC): 7-5
3. Jelena Vico/Maria Daciana Ciubotaru (PSU) def. Emma Charney/Parker Fry (USC): 7-5
Singles
1. Olivia Dorner (PSU) def. No. 46 Grace Piper (USC): 6-4, 6-4
2. No. 69 Emma Charney (USC) def. Maiko Uchijima (PSU): 7-5, 6-4
3. Patricia Grigoras (PSU) def. Lily Fairclough (USC): 6-4, 2-6, 6-1
4. No. 82 Immi Haddad (USC) def. Jelena Vico (PSU): 6-3, 3-6, 6-3
5. Jana Hossam (USC) def. Jordina Cegarra (PSU): 6-4, 6-7, 6-2
6. Maria Daciana Ciubotaru (PSU) def. Maia Sung (USC): 4-6, 6-4, 6-1