Panthers Upset #61 Penn State, 5-2

Saturday, February 6

Pittsburgh, Pa.

12:00 PM

Pitt

Penn State

Panthers Upset #61 Penn State, 5-2

2/6/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis

Feb. 6, 2016

Final Stats

PITTSBURGH - The Pitt tennis team defeated a ranked opponent for the first time in program history Saturday afternoon as it upset No. 61 Penn State, 5-2.

The Panthers (3-0) win also marked the first time Pitt has beat the Nittany Lions (1-3) since their first meeting in 1976.

"It was a great day for us," head coach Alex Santos said. "We beat a nationally ranked team and an in-state rival after losing the doubles point, which is even more impressive. We stayed composed, fought and trusted ourselves. We were very fortunate to get the result we were looking for."

Penn State took the initial lead of the dual as it claimed the doubles point. The tandem of redshirt senior Amber Washington and junior Lolade Ogungbesan fell 6-2, while sophomore Callie Frey and freshman Clara Lucas also suffered a 6-2 loss.

However, the Panthers were not shaken by the early losses. At 6 singles, Washington was the first Pitt player to finish as she dominated Kelly Mengel 6-3, 6-2 to tie the dual 1-1.

Freshman Gabriela Rezende finished next at No. 4 as she defeated Samantha Tutelman 6-2, 6-4.

At No. 3 singles, Frey won the first set 6-4 and battled her way to another 6-4 win in the second set. Frey trailed the majority of the set, but tied it 4-4 and never looked back.

Junior Audrey Ann Blakely checked in next at No. 2 singles. Blakely claimed the first set 6-4 and battled her way to a tiebreaker-win in the second, giving Pitt a 4-1 lead in the dual.

The final Panther win of the day came from Ogungbesan at No. 1 singles. In a match that took almost two hours to complete, Ogungbesan dropped the first set 6-7 (4), but came back to win the second set 6-2 and the tiebreaker 10-4.

Pitt enters ACC action for the first time this season as the squad travels to No. 33 Notre Dame Friday, Feb. 12. Action is set for 3:30 p.m. in South Bend, Ind.

For all things Pitt tennis, follow the team on Twitter and Instagram at @Pitt_Tennis.

DOUBLES

Jacqueline Zuhse/Katherine Whiteaway (PSU) def. Amber Washington/Lolade Ogungbesan (UP) 6-2

Audrey Ann Blakely/Gabriela Rezende (UP) def. Daria Sapogov/Samantha Tutelman (PSU) 5-3

Devan McCluskey/Kelly Mengel (PSU) def. Callie Frey/Clara Lucas (UP) 6-2

SINGLES

Lolade Ogungbesan (UP) def. Devan McCluskey (PSU) 6-7 (4), 6-2, 10-4

Audrey Ann Blakely (UP) def. Jacqueline Zuhse (PSU) 6-4, 7-6 (5)

Callie Frey (UP) def. Daria Sapogova (PSU) 6-4, 6-4

Gabriela Rezende (UP) def. Samantha Tutelman (PSU) 6-2, 6-4

Katherine Whiteaway (PSU) def. Clara Lucas (UP) 7-6, 6-4

Amber Washington (UP) def. Kelly Mengel (PSU) 6-3, 6-2