JMU Closes Weekend with Setback at #43 Penn State

Sunday, February 26

University Park, Pa.

10 a.m.

James Madison University

Penn State

2/26/2023 1:18:00 PM | Women's Tennis

Box Score

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Despite taking the early lead, James Madison women's tennis couldn't hold the momentum in singles play, dropping a 4-1 decision at #43 Penn State on Sunday afternoon at the Sarni Tennis Center.

The Nittany Lions improved to 7-5 on the year, while JMU's record was evened at 4-4. PSU also moved to 17-11 all-time against JMU, with wins in back-to-back seasons.

JMU won a pair of doubles matches, while Penn State rallied with four consecutive singles victories to clinch the team win.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Doubles Play

JMU snagged the early lead with doubles victories from courts two and three.
Daria Afanasyeva and Alexandra Prudente gave JMU the early edge with a 6-3 victory on court three against Karly Friedland and Olivia Dorner.
Moments later on court two, Daria Munteanu and Daniela Voloh clinched the doubles point with a 6-3 win over Ioana Gheorghita and Alexandra Nielson.
The court-one bout featuring Kylie Moulin and Ines Oliveira versus Sofiya Chekhlystova and Carla Girbau went unfinished, at 4-5.

Singles Play

Penn State quickly tied the match up, as Chekhlystova, ranked 42nd in singles nationally, took down Kylie Moulin on court one, 6-0, 6-4.
The Nittany Lions took the lead for good, at 2-1, when Gheorghita defeated Oliveira, 6-4, 6-2, on court three. That included winning 10 of the final 12 games after Oliveira led 4-2 in the first set.
PSU stretched the advantage to 3-1 on court five, as Dorner claimed a 6-3, 7-6 (7) triumph over Voloh.
Over on court two, Afanasyeva and Yvonne Zuffova would go the distance, as Zuffova rallied for a 3-6, 7-5, 6-2 win to secure the match for Penn State.
The final two matches went unfinished, as Munteanu was up a set on court five versus Friedland, while Hope Moulin was down a frame to Nielson on court six.

UP NEXT
JMU is off next week and returns to action on Friday, March 10 when it travels to San Marcos, Texas to open Sun Belt Conference play at Texas State. The opening serve is set for 2 p.m. ET.