SOUTH PARK, Pa. (Oct. 21) – Facing one of the perennial top teams in the Atlantic Region, the California University of Pennsylvania tennis team suffered a 6-1 loss against West Virginia State in non-conference play at the Glen Creek Tennis Club on Sunday afternoon.
With the loss, the Vulcans drop to 4-3 overall after playing their first dual match since Oct. 6. Meanwhile, the Yellow Jackets improve to 3-0 this season in dual play after making their 11th-consecutive appearance in the NCAA Tournament and securing the Mountain East Conference (MEC) Championship in 2017.
West Virginia State swept the doubles session to take a 1-0 lead to open the contest. Freshmen
Jo Weisen (Bereldange, Luxembourg/Sportlycee) and
Carolin Ganahl (Grafing, Germany/Gymnasium Grafing) dropped a 6-0 match against Laura Isbey and Kierstin Hensley in the first position. At the second slot, senior
Elizabeth Wohar (California, Pa./California) and junior
Charlie Gallagher (Kennett Square, Pa./Octorara) fell by a 6-1 margin to Kayla McKnight and Hanna Kruhlova. The freshmen duo of
Tanya Madhok (Mumbai, India/Jamnabai Narsee) and
Kristina Luko (Coal Center, Pa./California) suffered a 6-0 loss to Chante' Malo and Sydney Miller at third doubles.
The Yellow Jackets claimed the match victory with four straight-set wins in singles play on Sunday. Weisen recorded the lone victory for the Vulcans at first singles with a 6-3, 2-6, 10-7 win versus Isbey, who is the two-time MEC Player of the Year and a three-time All-MEC First-Team selection. At the second position, Ganahl dropped a 6-2, 6-1 contest versus the former ITA Atlantic Region Rookie of the Year in Hensley. Madhok was forced to forfeit at the third session against McKnight, while Gallagher fell by a 6-1, 6-1 decision at the fourth slot to Kruhlova. In fifth singles, Wohar suffered a 6-0, 6-0 defeat versus Malo and freshman
Emilee Leydig (Windber, Pa./Windber) dropped a 6-0, 6-1 match against Nika Tadic at the sixth position.
The contest marked the final event of the fall season for the Vulcans.
