COLUMBUS, Ohio - Penn State women’s tennis fell, 4-1, against No. 23 Washington in the first round of the Big Ten Women’s Tennis Tournament presented by Allstate on Thursday afternoon at the Auer Tennis Complex. The 12-seed Nittany Lions dropped to 14-11 (5-8 Big Ten) while the fifth-seeded Huskies improved to 10-4 (9-4 Big Ten).
The Blue & White took the doubles point for the 16th time this season with victories by No. 86 Olivia Dorner and Maelie Monfils on court one and Jordina Cegarra and Patricia Grigoras on court two.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Penn State clinched the doubles point with wins on the top two courts. At the top spot No. 86 Dorner and Monfils cruised to a 6-3 victory against Alexia Jacobs and Marie Weissheim, improving to 10-4 overall and 6-4 against Big Ten opponents on court one.
On court two, Grigoras and Cegarra downed Erika Matsuda and Karolina Kozakova, 6-3, to clinch the point. After playing together for much of last season, the duo only competed together twice this spring before reuniting for a postseason triumph.
Maria Daciana Ciubotaru and Maiko Uchijima dropped a 6-2 result against Reece Carter and Jermine Sherif on court three.
The Huskies won four consecutive singles matches to take the match. Monfils fell in a 6-2, 6-2 decision against No. 52 Carter on court one. The Huskies took a 2-1 edge as Dorner dropped a 6-1, 6-3 result on court four.
On court six, Ciubotaru fell, 6-2, 6-3, against Kozakova. To conclude the match, Grigoras came up short on court three against No. 92 Matsuda, 6-4, 6-4.
Uchijima and Brianna Baldi had their singles matches go unfinished. Uchijima was tied with Jacobs, 1-1 in the third set after splitting the first two sets 2-6, 6-4. Baldi was approaching a third set as she held a 5-3 advantage over Weissheim after dropping a 7-6 (7-3) opening frame.
RESULTS
No. 23 (5) Washington 4, (12) Penn State 1 – Auer Tennis Complex – Columbus, Ohio
Doubles
1. No. 86 Olivia Dorner/Maelie Monfils (PSU) def. Alexia Jacobs/Marie Weissheim (UW): 6-3
2. Jordina Cegarra/Patricia Grigoras (PSU) def. Erika Matsuda/Karolina Kozakova (UW): 6-3
3. Reece Carter/Jermine Sherif (UW) def. Maria Daciana Ciubotaru/Maiko Uchijima (PSU): 6-2
Singles
1. No. 52 Reece Carter (UW) def. Maelie Monfils (PSU): 6-2, 6-2
2. No. 92 Erika Matsuda (UW) def. Patricia Grigoras (PSU): 6-4, 6-4
3. Maiko Uchijima (PSU) vs. Alexia Jacobs (UW): 2-6, 6-4, 1-1 (unfinished)
4. Jermine Sherif (UW) def. Olivia Dorner (PSU): 6-1, 6-3
5. Marie Weissheim (UW) vs. Brianna Baldi (PSU): 7-6 (7-3), 3-5 (unfinished)
6. Karolina Kozakova (UW) def. Maria Daciana Ciubotaru (PSU): 6-2, 6-3
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