Dukes Edge Penn State 4-3 on the Road for 2-0 Spring Start

Saturday, January 28

State College, Pa.

11 a.m.

James Madison University

Penn State

Dukes Edge Penn State 4-3 on the Road for 2-0 Spring Start

1/28/2017 4:55:00 PM | Women's Tennis

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STATE COLLEGE, Pa. – A two-set victory by junior Kimmy Herrock at No. 6 singles secured match point for James Madison women's tennis as the Dukes defeated Penn State 4-3 on the road.

With the match tied at 3-all, Herrock took down Bennett Dunn 7-5, 6-3 at the No. 6 position to send the Dukes home winners. JMU is 2-0 to start the spring slate for the first time since 2014-15.

Neither team was able to pull away from the other for the duration of the match. JMU took a 1-0 lead into singles play after a come-from-behind showing in doubles.

Both duos were down 4-3 before earning the next three points each
— JMU Women's Tennis (@JMUWTennis) January 28, 2017

Penn State took the first two singles points for the lead before the Dukes regained the advantage at 3-2 with back-to-back three-set comeback victories.

Sophomore Emma Petersen stretched her singles win streak to six with her three-set battle over Dasha Sapogova at No. 3 singles. Senior Timea Guibe became the first Duke to double-digit singles victories this season with her 10^th, a three-setter that went to a tiebreaker (3-6, 6-4, 7-6(4)) against Devan McCluskey at No. 2 singles.

Timea Guibe grinds out a three-set win at No. 2 singles & the Dukes lead 3-2 at Penn State! #GoDukes
— JMU Women's Tennis (@JMUWTennis) January 28, 2017

QUOTING HEAD COACH JAMES BRYCE
"This was a great team effort from top to bottom. We knew our doubles play would be key and we executed our game plan. The team atmosphere was the best I have seen in my three years at JMU, and we will enjoy this win on the ride home before focusing on George Washington come Monday."

RESULTS
Doubles (1, 3, 2*)

McCluskey/Blik def. Guibe/Herrock, 6-3
Petersen/Harris def. Zuhse/Dunn, 6-4
Roka/Amos def. Tutelman/Sapogova, 6-4

Singles (1, 4, 3, 2, 5, 6*)

Katia Blik def. Rachel Nelson 6-1, 6-4
Timea Guibe def. Devan McCluskey 3-6, 6-4, 7-6(4)
Emma Petersen def. Dasha Sapogova 1-6, 6-1, 6-4
Samantha Smith def. Jona Roka 7-5, 6-4
Shannon Hanley def. Abby Amos 6-4, 6-4
Kimmy Herrock def. Bennett Dunn 7-5, 6-3

UP NEXT
The Dukes are back in action next weekend with a noon tilt at George Washington on Friday, Feb. 3 and a 9 a.m. match at Navy on Saturday, Feb. 4.