Buckeyes Go Pink vs. Penn State Saturday in B1G Match – Ohio State Buckeyes
3/12/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
March 12, 2015
RELATED INFOhttp:
? Clinic Registration:www.go.osu.edu/WTENFreeClinic
? 2015 Ohio State Women’s Tennis Schedule
? Follow the Buckeyes onFacebook and Twitter
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The 19th-ranked Ohio State women’s tennis team is set to continue its conference play vs. Penn State at noon Saturday in the Varsity Tennis Center in Columbus, Ohio. At the match, the Scarlet and Gray are “going pink” to raise funds and support the Stefanie Spielman Fund for Breast Cancer Research.
BUCKEYES GO PINK?
Ohio State will hold a post-match clinic, silent auction, raffle and bake sale to benefit the Stefanie Spielman Fund for Breast Cancer Research as the Buckeyes “Go Pink” vs. Penn State. Following the conclusion of the match, join the Buckeyes for a 45-minute clinic. Donations will be accepted for the Stefanie Spielman Fund for Breast Cancer Research. Last season, the Buckeyes raised more than $600 at the event.
SCOUTING THE NITTANY LIONS
Penn State is off to a 4-8 start this spring with wins vs. B1G opponent Illinois, Pittsburgh, VCU and Memphis. In B1G play, the Nittany Lions are 1-1, with a loss to Northwestern, 4-3, Feb. 14 and a 4-3 win at home vs. Illinois, 4-3, March 9. Kim Surin and Samantha Tutelman lead the team with four wins in singles play.
The Buckeyes own a 28-17 advantage vs. the Nittany Lions. Last season, the Buckeyes swept Penn State, 7-0, to open their conference slate in University Park, Pa.
DE SANTIS NAMED B1G ATHLETE OF THE WEEK?
Sophomore Gabriella De Santis earned her second career B1G Athlete of the Week laurels March 10 after collecting a pair of wins at No. 1 singles vs. Northwestern and Illinois. The Caracas, Venezuela, native defeated Northwestern’s Alicia Barnett in straight sets on court one to push the Buckeyes to a 6-1 victory at home. After dropping the first set on the road to Illinois’ Melissa Kopinski, De Santis rallied to earn a three-set victory, 4-6, 6-2, 6-4, and clinch the Buckeye victory vs. the Illini. She was previously recognized last season on April 1, 2014.
BUCKEYES WIN B1G HOME AND AWAY OPENERS
?In dominating fashion, Ohio State defeated Northwestern and Illinois last weekend to improve to 2-0 in B1G play. The Buckeyes started the weekend at home as they topped Northwestern for the first time since April 13, 2003. After claiming the doubles point in the conference opener with wins on courts two and three, the squad notched five straight-set victories to earn the victory, 6-1. Two days later on the road, the Buckeyes downed Illinois with the same 6-1 result behind the doubles point and wins in five of six singles matches, including four three-set victories.
IN THE RANKINGS?
The Buckeyes bounced back to the No. 19 spot in the latest ITA poll, released March 10. The Buckeyes were also previously ranked No. 19 in late February, marking the first appearance in the Top 20 of the ITA poll for the Scarlet and Gray since 2010. The sophomore tandem of Gabriella De Santis and Sandy Niehaus remains at No. 24 with three wins at No. 1 doubles and an 11-6 overall record.
IN A NUTSHELL
? Overall, the Buckeyes are 42-20 (.677) in singles and 17-9 (.654) in doubles this spring.
? Ohio State is 7-1 overall and 2-0 in conference contests when claiming the doubles point.
? The Buckeyes have won 15 of the last 16 matches at the Varsity Tennis Center. The Buckeyes tied a program-record with 14 straight wins before falling to Baylor March 1 at home.
? Sophomore Sandy Niehaus leads the Buckeyes with nine singles wins.
? De Santis, Niehaus, Angeles Paz and O’Neill have all posted 2-0 records in B1G singles play.?
BE A BUCKEYE KID CAPTAIN?
Sign up to be a Buckeye Kids Captain and deliver the first serve of an upcoming match at this link: go.osu.edu/TennisBKC. The promotion is open to kids in eighth grade and under.
UP NEXT
The Buckeyes will go on the road to face new B1G foes Rutgers March 20 and Maryland March 22, along with a match at UMBC after the matchup with the Terrapins.
