Tulane University
Penn State
Tulane Women's Tennis Stuns No. 59 Penn State with 5-2 Upset
Feb 19, 2012 | Women's Tennis
Feb. 19, 2012
NEW ORLEANS - The Tulane women's team chalked up their the biggest win since the program was re-launched in 2008 and put together its first statement win of the year today with a convincing 5-2 road victory over 59th-ranked Penn State at the Sarni Tennis Center in University Park, Pa.
Heading into the season, the Green Wave (8-1) had managed just one victory against a nationally ranked squad, a 7-0 shutout victory over 72nd-ranked Akron at home last season. Today, Tulane not only notched a victory but did it in front of a hostile crowd on the road.
"This is by far the biggest day for us since we re-launched the program in 2008," Tulane head coach Terri Sisk said. "I knew this day was coming and it would be soon. But just watching the girls believe and respond this weekend on the road, and on indoor courts, just reiterates what I have known this whole time and that's this is a very solid program and if we keep working hard, the sky is the limit. There are not any other girls I would rather have representing Tulane. This truly is a special team and I am thrilled for them in their huge victory today against the No. 59 team in the country."
Penn State got on the board first when its duo of Petra Januskova and Chelsea Utting got past Tulane's top team of senior Mariam Kurdadze and junior Emma Levy, 8-4.
However, the Nittany Lions' momentum was short lived as the Green Wave dug in and quickly rebounded when its junior tandem of Caroline Magnusson and Caroline Thornton won an 8-4 decision at the No. 2 spot over Marie Bedard and Fernanda Perrotta.
Tulane then seized an early lead when senior Lindsay Dvorak and junior Hila Elster claimed the doubles point with their 8-4 win at No. 3 over Carmen Sandor and Sara Henderson.
In singles action, Penn State was once again quick out of the gate and posted its first point of the match to tie the stalemate at 1-1 when 43rd-ranked Januskova downed Kurdadze at No. 1 singles, 6-2, 6-4.
But as the case was in doubles, Tulane was quick to turn back the Nittany Lions. Levy gave TU a 2-1 advantage when she dispatched Chelsea Utting, 6-4, 6-2, at No. 2. Thornton continued the damage and upped the lead to 3-1 in the visitors favor when she topped Sandor at No. 3, 6-4, 7-6 (5).
Penn State then recorded its second and last point of the match when Perrotta outlasted Magnusson at No. 4, 7-6, 5-7, 6-2.
Minutes later, Tulane clinched the match when sophomore Jenny Hois was within match point, 6-4, 5-0, over Bedard at No. 5, but Bedard was forced to retire.
Dvorak closed out the match in convincing fashion with a, 4-6, 6-4, 10-5, win over Nina Setic at No. 6.
Penn State fell to 5-3 on the year.
RESULTS
Doubles-
No. 1 Petra Januskova/Chelsea Utting (PSU) def. Mariam Kurdadze/Emma Levy (TU), 8-4
No. 2 Caroline Thornton/Caroline Magnusson (TU) def. Marie Bedard/Fernanda Perrotta (PSU), 8-4
*No. 3 Lindsay Dvorak/Hila Elster (TU) def. Carmen Sandor/Sara Henderson (PSU), 8-4
*Clinched doubles point
Singles-
No. 1 No. 43 Petra Januskova (PSU) def. Mariam Kurdadze (TU), 6-2, 6-4
No. 2 Emma Levy (TU) def. Chelsea Utting (PSU), 6-4, 6-2
No. 3 Caroline Thornton (TU) def. Carmen Sandor (PSU), 6-4, 7-6 (5)
No. 4 Fernanda Perrotta (PSU) def. Caroline Magnusson (TU), 7-6, 5-7, 6-2
**No. 5 Jenny Hois (TU) def. Marie Bedard (PSU), 6-4, 5-0, retired
No. 6 Lindsay Dvorak (TU) def. Nina Sertic (PSU), 4-6, 6-4, 10-5,
**Clinched match point
Players Mentioned
