Score: VCU 3, PENN STATE 4
Location: Richmond, Va. (Thalhimer Tennis Center)
Records: VCU 5-3, Penn State 3-2

The Short Story: After losing the doubles point, the Rams rallied in their respective singles matches to tie the Nittany Lions 3-3 before falling just short in the final match.

OPENING SERVE

• Paola Exposito Diaz-Delgado improved to 6-2 in No. 1 singles after cruising past Gabby O'Gorman 6-1, 7-5.
• Junior Kanako Yano picked up her second straight victory after defeating Olivia Ryan 6-3, 6-0.
• Senior Noumea Witmus continued to impress winning her third straight match 6-4, 6-2.
• Luminita Tutunaru won her first set in No. 2 singles 6-3. The freshman needed one more win, but Penn State's Samantha Smith rallied in the final two sets 6-4, 7-5 to clinch the victory for the Nittany Lions.

THE RESULTS

DOUBLES:

1. Samantha Smith/Shannon Hanley (PSU) def. Gabriela Ana-Maria Davidescu/Luminita Tutunaru (VCU) 6-2

2. Paola Exposito Diaz-Delgado/Noumea Witmus (VCU) vs. Gabby O'Gorman/Frederikke Svarre (PSU) 5-4 DNF

3. Gracey Hirsch/Olivia Ryan (PSU) def. Melissa Ifidzhen/Kanako Yano (VCU) 6-3

Order of Finish – 3, 1

SINGLES: 

1. Paola Exposito Diaz-Delgado (VCU) def. Gabby O'Gorman (PSU) 6-1, 7-5

2. Samantha Smith (PSU) def. Luminita Tutunaru (VCU) 3-6, 6-4, 7-5

3. Frederikke Svarre (PSU) def. Gabriela Ana-Maria Davidescu (VCU) 6-4, 6-4

4. Kanako Yano (VCU) def. Olivia Ryan (PSU) 6-3, 6-0

5. Shannon Hanley (PSU) def. Melissa Ifidzhen (VCU) 6-1, 6-2

6. Noumea Witmus (VCU) def. Gracey Hirsch (PSU) 6-4, 6-2

Order of Finish – 4, 1, 3, 5, 6, 2

UP NEXT

VCU will have the week off before welcoming Wisconsin on Friday, February 21 at 4:00 p.m. All home VCU tennis matches will take place in the Thalhimer Tennis Center. Admission is free to the public and VCU students.