UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Cleveland State women's tennis team began their 2014 spring season this morning, falling to No. 49 Penn State, 5-2.
"This was our first competitive match this spring, and although we didn't get the victory I thought we played well for our first match," head coach Brian Etzkin said. "This was our first chance to try out the new doubles scoring, and when you are on the losing end of those matches it seems to go by even faster. We got down in the doubles matches quickly, and then we didn't have time to make any sort of come back. Overall we didn't play poorly, but we definitely have room to improve.
Using the new doubles scoring of only playing to six instead of eight, Penn State was able to pick up two quick victories at the No. 1 and No. 2 slots, earning the first point of the match.
The Nittany Lions were then able to pick up victories at No. 1, No. 3, and No. 2 singles clinching the match before the Vikings were able to get on the board.
"We were able to pick up two singles wins against the 49th ranked team in the nation, which is a great showing for us, but unfortunately we picked them up after the match was already decided," Etzkin said. "Going into the match I thought we would be able to pick up a couple points during the singles matches, which we did, just a little too late."
Alex Bush and Ellen Folkers each picked up a singles win on the day – Bush against Katherine Whiteaway (6-3, 6-3) at No. 4 singles and Folkers against Taylor Shukow (6-4, 6-4) at the No. 6 spot.
"If you look at the first three matches of our schedule we are definitely the underdog on paper, and it would be a great start to our season if we were able to pick up a win during this stretch. Next up we will face Akron, a team that we fell just short against last season, and try to pick up our first victory of the year," Etzkin said.
Cleveland State will continue the spring season next weekend, hosting the Akron Zips in their first home contest of the year. The Vikings are set to take on the Zips at 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 25 at Paramount Tennis Club.
Penn State 5, Cleveland State 2
Doubles:
1. Utting/Sandor (PSU) def. Bensimon/Gbadamosi (CSU), 6-2
2. Bedard/Blik (PSU) def. Sherwood/Bush (CSU), 6-3
3. Whiteaway/Shukow (PSU) vs. Orange/Folkers (CSU), 4-1 UF
Singles:
1. Katia Blik (PSU) def. Princess Gbadamosi (CSU), 6-2, 6-3
2. Carmen Sandor (PSU) def. Kara Sherwood (CSU), 6-2, 6-2
3. Dasha Sapogova (PSU) def. Victoria Bensimon (CSU), 6-4, 6-2
4. Alex Bush (CSU) def. Katherine Whiteaway (PSU), 6-3, 6-3
5. Marie Bedard (PSU) def. Mathilde Orange (CSU), 6-4, 6-2
6. Ellen Folkers (CSU) def. Taylor Shukow (PSU), 6-4, 6-4
