GREENVILLE, S.C. - The Penn State women’s tennis team opened the 2025 fall season at the Debbie Southern Fall Classic over the weekend. Brianna Baldi had a standout weekend in her first appearance as a Nittany Lion, going undefeated in singles and winning two-of-three doubles matches.
Baldi was joined by Olivia Dorner, Maelie Monfils and Patricia Grigoras on the campus of Furman University. Monfils and Baldi made their debuts in the Blue & White after transferring from Florida State and Wake Forest respectively.
The first day consisted of two rounds of doubles and one of singles. In the first round of doubles, Grigoras and Baldi quickly defeated the team of Mia Robinson and Athina Pitta from Mississippi State in a 6-1 decision. It was Baldi’s first victory as a member of the program.
The pair dropped a 6-3 contest in the next round to Furman’s Elle Warren and Macy Hitchcock. Dorner and Monfils would fall in both of their doubles matchups on the day.
In singles play, Monfils earned her first win as a Nittany Lion. She defeated Alabama’s Amina Salibayeva, 6-4, 6-3. Baldi secured another Penn State victory with a 6-0, 7-5 triumph over Jane Dunyon of South Carolina.
Dorner fell to Kentucky’s Ascunsion Jadue, 6-2, 6-2, before Grigoras dropped a competitive three-set match, 5-7, 6-4, 6-3, to Texas Tech’s Polina Sleptsova to conclude the opening day.
Dorner and Monfils dropped a 6-3 match to Marina Fudruic and Reese Sager of Kentucky to open doubles play on day two. Penn State picked up their first win of the day when Grigoras and Baldi gutted out a 7-5 victory Wake Forest’s Whitley Pate and Evie Oxford. The pair finished the tournament with a 2-1 record in their first competition together.
Baldi continued her strong play in singles with a resounding, 6-0, 6-2 victory against Fuduric. She was the only Nittany Lion to earn a singles victory on day two with Dorner falling to Indiana’s Ameia Sorey (6-3, 6-2), Grigoras dropping to Kentucky’s Ellie Meyers (7-5, 6-4) and Monfils coming up short in a three-set match against Nayuki (6-4, 3-6, 6-3).
The third day consisted of four singles matches. Baldi won her flight and moved to a 3-0 record in singles play with a 6-1, 7-5 victory over Heidi Bulger of Wake Forest. Monfils earned her second singles win at the tournament with a 6-2, 7-5 win over another Deamon Deacon in Sankavi Gownder. Dorner fell to Texas Tech’s Mariia Hlahola, 7-5, 6-2. Grigoras dropped to Jadue in a close three-set match, 7-5, 2-6, 6-4.
Up next for Penn State is ITA All-Americans in Cary, North Carolina from Sept. 20-28.
Follow along with the Nittany Lions on X, @PennStateWTEN, Instagram, @pennstatewtennis and Facebook, Penn State Women's Tennis.
Day One Results
Doubles
- Patricia Grigoras/Brianna Baldi (PSU) def. Mia Robinson/Athina Pitta (MSU): 6-1
2. Given Roach/Seri Nayuki (GT) def. Olivia Dorner/Maelie Monfils (PSU): 7-6
3. Elle Warren/Macy Hitchcock (FUR) def. Patricia Grigoras/Brianna Baldi (PSU): 6-3
4. Carolina Troiano/Gianna Oboniye (MSU) def. Olivia Dorner/Maelie Monfils (PSU): 6-2
Singles
- Ascunsion Jadue (UK) def. Olivia Dorner (PSU): 6-2, 6-2
2. Maelie Monfils (PSU) def. Amina Salibayeva (UA): 6-4, 6-3
3. Polina Sleptsova (TTU) def. Patricia Grigoras (PSU): 5-7, 6-4, 6-3
4. Brianna Baldi (PSU) def. Jane Dunyon (USC): 6-0, 7-5
Day Two Results
Doubles
- Patricia Grigoras/Brianna Baldi (PSU) def. Whitley Pate/Evie Oxford (WF): 7-5
2. Marina Fudruic/Reese Sager (UK) def. Olivia Dorner/Maelie Monfils (PSU): 6-3
Singles
1. Ameia Sorey (IU) def. Olivia Dorner (PSU): 6-3, 6-2
2. Ellie Meyers (UK) def. Patricia Grigoras (PSU): 7-5, 6-4
3. Seri Nayuki (GT) def. Maelie Monfils (PSU): 6-4, 3-6, 6-3
4. Brianna Baldi (PSU) def. Marina Fudruic (UK): 6-0, 6-2
Day Three Results
Singles
- Mariia Hlahola (TTU) def. Olivia Dorner (PSU): 7-5, 6-2
2. Maelie Monfils (PSU) def. Sankavi Gownder (WF): 6-2, 7-5
3. Brianna Baldi (PSU) def. Heidi Bulger (WF): 6-1, 7-5
4. Ascunsion Jadue (UK) def. Patricia Grigoras (PSU): 7-5, 2-6, 6-4