Tennis: WVU Drops to Penn State
February 29, 2008 11:06 PM | General
By Steve Stone for MSNsportsNET.com
February 29, 2008
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The West Virginia University tennis team lost its match to Big Ten opponent Penn State, 7-0, on Friday, Feb. 29, at the Penn State Indoor Tennis Center in University Park, Pa.
The Mountaineers (4-3, 0-1 BIG EAST) were shut out for the second time this season and could not muster a victory in either singles or doubles competition despite receiving good performances from several players.
Falling behind early in several matches, WVU made a habit of battling back and forcing third sets and tiebreakers in a loss that will not be judged solely by the outcome.
“The score tonight was certainly not indicative of how we played,” says WVU Head Coach Marc Walters. “The team showed a lot of heart and character tonight, and I felt like we played them a lot tougher than last year.”
Walters was impressed with senior Stacey Percival, who put forth a valiant effort in her loss to Katelyn BeVard at No. 1 singles. BeVard won in three sets, 6-4, 6-7, 6-4.
“Stacey had a terrific day. That was one of the best singles performances we’ve had in the last two years,” says Walters.
The Nittany Lions (3-5, 1-1 Big Ten), who recently dropped out of the latest Intercollegiate Tennis Association Poll after receiving a No. 75 ranking, won several close matches in singles and doubles play in what proved to be the difference in the contest.
Lauren Holzberg defeated WVU’s Monica Lyskawa in three sets, 6-3, 1-6, 6-4, at No. 2 singles. Lyskawa teamed with Stephanie LaFortune at No. 2 doubles as they were defeated in a tiebreaker to Holzberg-McCarthy, 8-7 (7-5).
LaFortune’s match at No. 6 singles went an extra set as well, as she was defeated by Leyla Morzan, 6-0, 3-6, 10-6.
The Mountaineers look to rebound when they face Columbia on Saturday, March 1, at 10 a.m. at the Penn State Indoor Tennis Center.
PSU-7 WVU-0
Singles
1. Katelyn BeVard (PSU) def. Stacey Percival (WVU) (6-4, 6-7, 6-4)
2. Lauren Holzberg (PSU) def. Monica Lyskawa (WVU) (6-3, 1-6, 6-4)
3. Jenny Shular (PSU) def. Natalia Prinz (WVU) (6-0, 6-2)
4. Sarah Lotto (PSU) def. Colleen Speaker (WVU) (7-6, 6-3)
5. Lauren McCarthy (PSU) def. Ashley Pilsbury (WVU) (6-3, 6-3)
6. Leyla Morzan (PSU) def. Stephanie LaFortune (WVU) (6-0, 3-6, 10-6)
Doubles
1. Lotto/BeVard (PSU) def. Percival/Prinz (WVU) 8-6
2. Holzberg/McCarthy (PSU) def. LaFortune/Lyskawa (WVU) 8-7 (7-5)
3. Shular/Morzan (PSU) def. Burton/Speaker (WVU) 8-4
