Women’s Tennis Falls to Minnesota 4-3 In Round Two of the Big Ten Tournament

IOWA CITY, IOWA— The No. 9 seed Penn State women’s tennis fell to No. 8 seed Minnesota by a 4-3 decision in the second round of Big Ten Tournament play on Thursday evening.   

DOUBLES 

Minnesota secured the doubles point with victories on courts one and three. 

On court No. 1, Penn State duo Sofiya Checkhlystova and Karly Friedland were edged, 6-4, by Emilee Duong and Ekin Ercetin. Minnesota partners Lucy Lu and Maria Rizzolo captured the doubles point for the Gophers with a 6-4 win over Yvonne Zuffova and Olivia Ryan. 

Court No.2 was left unfinished at 5-4 where Minnesota’s Rachel Hanford and Dalila Said lead Gabby O’Gorman and Alexandra Nielsen. 

SINGLES 

Despite the Nittany Lions collecting three singles wins on courts one, three and six they were unable to defeat the Gophers. Minnesota clinched the match earning victories on courts two, four and five.  

On court No. 3 O’Gorman found victory in straight sets, 6-1, 6-0, , over Ekin Ercetin to bring the score to a tie at 1. The Nittany Lions took the lead with a win on court No. 6 from Alina Lebedeva over Dalila Said, 6-4, 6-2.  

Chekhlystova defeated Rachel Hanford on court No.1, 6-3, 6-4 to extend the Nittany Lions lead to 3-1 over the Gophers.  

Minnesota captured wins on courts five, four and six to clinch the match and earn their spot to the third round of play in the Big Ten Tournament to face No. 1 seed Ohio State. 

RESULTS 

Minnesota 4, Penn State 3 

Doubles Results 

1. Emilee Duong/Ekin Ercetin (MINN) def. Sofiya Chekhlystova/Karly Friedland (PSU) 6-4 

2. Rachel Hanford/Dalila Said (MINN) vs. Gabby O’Gorman/Alexandra Nielsen (PSU) 5-4, unfinished  

3. Lucy Lu/Maria Rizzolo (MINN) def. Olivia Ryan/Yvonne Zuffova (PSU) 6-4  

Order of Finish: 1,3  

Singles Results 

1. Sofiya Chekhlystova (PSU) def. Rachel Hanford (MINN) 6-3, 6-4 

2. Emilee Duong (MINN) def. Yvonne Zuffova (PSU) 4-6, 7-6 (12-10), 6-4  

3. Gabby O’Gorman (PSU) def. Ekin Ercetin (MINN) 6-1, 6-0 

4. Maria Rizzolo (MINN) def. Karly Friedland (PSU) 7-5, 1-6, 7-5 

5. Vasia Karvouni (MINN) def. Alexandra Nielsen (PSU) 6-3, 6-3 

6. Alina Lebedeva (PSU) def. Dalila Said (MINN) 6-4, 6-2  

Order of Finish: 3, 6, 1, 5, 4 

Keep up with the Penn State women’s tennis team at GoPSUsports.com….