UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Penn State women’s tennis team wrapped up an undefeated weekend in Big Ten play with a 4-1 victory over Rutgers on Sunday in its first home match outside at Sarni Tennis Center.
The Nittany Lions improved to 12-6 (3-4 Big Ten) while the Scarlet Knights fell to 8-9 (1-6 Big Ten). The Blue & White won the doubles point for the 13th time this season, owning a 12-1 mark when doing so.
Maria Daciana Ciubotaru clinched her sixth match of the season on court four. The sophomore has won the deciding match in all three of Penn State’s Big Ten victories as well as the team’s triumph over No. 25 Yale.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Penn State opened the contest with a dominant doubles display to clinch the point. Olivia Dorner and Maelie Monfils quickly dismantled Mai Nguyen and Karina Jumazhanova on court one as they cruised to a 6-0 sweep. The pair is now 6-3 on court one this spring with four ranked wins.
Jordina Cegarra and Ciubotaru clinched the point with a 6-2 victory on court three over Naomi Karki and Stella Schmitz. Patricia Grigoras and Maiko Uchijima held a 5-3 advantage at the two spot against Zeynep Ilker and Zuzanna Frankowska before the match went unfinished.
Dorner carried her momentum from doubles into singles. The senior extended the PSU lead to 2-0 with a commanding victory on court three. Dorner improved to 9-2 (3-1 Big Ten) in dual matches with a 6-2, 6-3 triumph against Ilker.
Grigoras was the next Nittany Lion to earn a victory. The sophomore earned her first Big Ten win on court one, third overall, against Nguyen. After a dominant 6-0 first set, Grigoras had to battle in the second frame. She came out on top to complete a 6-0, 7-6 (7-4) victory and give Penn State a 3-0 edge.
Rutgers got its first point of the day as Uchijima fell to Jumazhanova, 6-3, 7-6 (7-5), on court two.
Ciubotaru clinched the dual on court four against Stella Schmitz. The sophomore has clinched five consecutive wins for the Blue & White gutted. She gutted out the first set, 7-6 (7-5), to take control of the match before taking the second set, 6-3. Ciubotaru is 3-1 in the Big Ten and has won six consecutive singles contests.
Brianna Baldi was in a tight match against Savannah Cohen on court five. Cohen held the slight 7-6 (7-3), 4-4 edge as it went unfinished in the second set. Cegarra was in a similar position on court six against Cindy Zhou. She held a 5-2 lead in the second set after dropping the first 7-6 (7-1).
RESULTS
Penn State 4, Rutgers 1 – Sarni Tennis Center – University Park, Pa.
Doubles
1. Olivia Dorner/Maelie Monfils (PSU) def. Mai Nguyen/Karina Jumazhanova (RU): 6-0
2. Patricia Grigoras/Maiko Uchijima (PSU) vs. Zeynep Ilker/Zuzanna Frankowska (RU): 5-3
3. Jordina Cegarra/Maria Daciana Ciubotaru (PSU) def. Naomi Karki/Stella Schmitz (RU): 6-2
Singles
1. Patricia Grigoras (PSU) def. Mai Nguyen (RU): 6-0, 7-6 (7-4)
2. Karina Jumazhanova (RU) def. Maiko Uchijima (PSU): 6-3, 7-6 (7-5)
3. Olivia Dorner (PSU) def. Zeynep Ilker (RU): 6-2, 6-3
4. Maria Daciana Ciubotaru (PSU) def. Stella Schmitz (RU): 7-6 (7-5), 6-3
5. Brianna Baldi (PSU) vs. Savannah Cohen (RU): 6-7 (3-7) 4-4
6. Jordina Cegarra (PSU) vs. Cindy Zhou (RU): 6-7 (1-7), 5-2
UP NEXT
Penn State will begin a four-match road stretch starting with a Midwest trip to Iowa on April 3 at 6 p.m. and Nebraska on April 5 at 11 a.m.
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