UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Penn State women’s tennis team opened the 2026 spring season with two commanding victories on Sunday at the Indoor Tennis Center. The Nittany Lions opened the day with a 7-0 shutout against Villanova before a 6-1 result against Saint Francis.
It is the second year in a row the Blue & White bested the Wildcats and Red Flash in the month of January, having defeated both by 7-0 margins in 2025.
Freshman Ansley Cox earned wins in all four of her singles and doubles matches. Her doubles partner, junior Jordina Cegarra, was able to pick up a singles win against Saint Francis as well. Sophomore Patricia Grigoras and senior Maiko Uchijima, working as a doubles pair for both contests, registered a doubles win and two singles triumphs apiece. Senior Olivia Dorner joined them with three total victories with one doubles and two singles wins. Junior Maelie Monfils collected court one wins in doubles and singles against Villanova to round out the multi-win individuals.
HOW IT HAPPENED - VILLANOVA
Against the Wildcats, the Nittany Lions owned doubles play with two dominant victories. The pairing of Cegarra and Cox cruised to a resounding 6-0 victory on court three. PSU clinched the point on court one with the tandem of Dorner and Monfils controlling their match en route to a 6-1 decision. Grigoras and Uchijima held a 4-3 advantage on court two before the match went unfinished.
Penn State continued its dominance in singles competition, not conceding a single set to the visiting Wildcats. Grigoras was the first to finish, making quick work of her opponent to take the match, 6-1, 6-3, on court three. Maria Daciana Ciubotaru put together a solid performance on court four. The sophomore won 6-2, 6-2 to give PSU a 3-0 lead.
On court one, Monfils clinched the Penn State victory in thrilling fashion. After a dominant 6-0 first set, the Paris, France native had to battle in the second set to secure the victory. Monfils found herself trailing Villanova’s Olivia Corcoran, 5-4, in the frame before taking two of three games to force a tiebreaker. In the deciding battle, Monfils brought it home, 7-2, to win her match 6-0, 7-6 (7-2).
Shortly after Monfils’ win, Uchijima put the Nittany Lions ahead 5-0 with a court two victory. After a tight first set, Uchijima owned the second to take a 7-5, 6-2 decision. Cox was in firm command of her match from start to finish, registering a 6-0, 6-3 triumph on court six. Dorner finished the match with a 7-6 (7-2), 6-3 victory on court five to give PSU a 7-0 sweep to open the 2026 campaign.
HOW IT HAPPENED – SAINT FRANCIS
The Blue & White picked up where they left off in doubles competition against the Red Flash. The tandem of Grigoras and Uchijima made it look easy on court one with a 6-1 win. Cegarra and Cox on court two and Dorner and Zink on court three built similar leads with the former picking up the win first in a 6-3 decision. Dorner and Zink’s match would go unfinished at 5-3.
On the singles side, Grigoras once again wrapped up her match first with an emphatic 6-0, 6-1 triumph on court two. The Middle Village, New York native concluded the day conceding just five games across two singles matches. Dorner put PSU ahead 3-0 with a complete, 6-1, 6-1, victory on court three.
Playing at the top spot, Uchijima clinched the Nittany Lion victory. After a hotly contested first set that saw her gut out a 6-4 result, the Tokyo, Japan native left no doubt in the second set, earning a 6-1 win in the frame to give Penn State a 2-0 record.
On court three, Cox rallied from dropping the first set to capture a 4-6, 6-2, 10-6 victory on court four. The comeback capped a strong performance from the freshman as she won all four of her matches across singles and doubles.
At the five spot, Cegarra rallied from an early deficit to take her match, 6-4, 6-4, and put the Nittany Lions ahead 6-0. Junior Katerina Dimitrova, playing in her first singles match since 2024, fell in three sets, 3-6, 6-3, 8-10, on court six.
RESULTS – VILLANOVA
Penn State 7, Villanova 0 – Indoor Tennis Center – University Park, Pa.
Doubles
1. Olivia Dorner/Maelie Monfils (PSU) def. Emily Callahan/Maggie Gehrig (VU): 6-1
2. Patricia Grigoras/Maiko Uchijima (PSU) v. Olivia Corcoran/Jenna Stevens (VU): 4-3 (unfinished)
3. Jordina Cegarra/Ansley Cox (PSU) def. Miriam Gondorova/Lauren Monti (VU): 6-0
Singles
1. Maelie Monfils (PSU) def. Olivia Corcoran (VU): 6-0, 7-6 (7-2)
2. Maiko Uchijima (PSU) def. Maggie Gehrig (VU): 7-5, 6-2
3. Patricia Grigoras (PSU) def. Jenna Stevens (VU): 6-1, 6-3
4. Maria Daciana Ciubotaru (PSU) def. Lauren Monti (VU): 6-2, 6-2
5. Olivia Dorner (PSU) def. Alina Kornyeva (VU): 7-6 (7-2), 6-3
6. Ansley Cox (PSU) def. Riley Cicero (VU): 6-0, 6-3
RESULTS – SAINT FRANCIS
Penn State 6, Saint Francis 1 – Indoor Tennis Center – University Park, Pa.
Doubles
1. Patricia Grigoras/Maiko Uchijima (PSU) def. Helena Lynn/Reagan Mangan (SFU): 6-1
2. Jordina Cegarra/Ansley Cox (PSU) def. Kelly Duwuona/Gabriela Almanza (SFU): 6-3
3. Olivia Dorner/Kate Zink (PSU) v. Sophia Cunningham/Emma Marais (SFU): 5-3 (unfinished)
Singles
1. Maiko Uchijima (PSU) def. Dasha Chichkina (SFU): 6-4, 6-1
2. Patricia Grigoras (PSU) def. Kelly Duwuona (SFU): 6-0, 6-1
3. Olivia Dorner (PSU) def. Gabriela Almanza (SFU): 6-1, 6-1
4. Ansley Cox (PSU) def. Helena Lynn (SFU): 4-6, 6-2, 10-6
5. Jordina Cegarra (PSU) def. Reagan Mangan (SFU): 6-4, 6-4
6. Morgan Tuffs (SFU) def. Katerina Dimitrova (PSU): 6-3, 3-6, 10-8
UP NEXT
Penn State looks ahead to ITA Kickoff Weekend with the Nittany Lions traveling to Chapel Hill, North Carolina as a No. 3 seed at the event. The hosting North Carolina Tar Heels, ranked No. 3 in the country, are the top seed with Charlotte and Columbia at No. 2 and No. 4, respectively. Penn State will take on Charlotte on Saturday, January 24 before a matchup with either North Carolina or Columbia the following day.
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