Netwomen sink to 2-11 on season with pair of weekend losses to VCU, Rice

They are still holding their heads high, but the players on the Penn State women's tennis team are beginning to see how grim the future looks.

The Lady Lions (2-11) dropped two more matches this weekend to No. 22 Virginia Commonwealth (VCU) and Rice. The Rams (14-2) dealt the Lions a 6-1 lashing Friday while the Owls (13-6) barely crept past Penn State yesterday with a 4-3 final.

"We're on the verge of breaking through in matches as a team," Whiteside said. "I'm happy with the team's competitive performance and that everyone is getting so much better."

"It's difficult because we've been playing outside for a while," Bard said. "We adjusted to the conditions real well and we had to because it goes so fast inside."

The fast-paced action the Owls dished out yesterday proved to be too much for the Lions to handle, although they did put up a fight.

Rice quickly took four points in singles despite solid efforts by Pilar Montgomery and Alison Barnett, the No. 1 and 2 seeds on the team. Teresa Whiteside (no relation) and Kim Luff were able to pull out victories in their matches.

In a loud, emotional game, the No. 1 doubles tandem of Montgomery and Barnett dominated doubles play and took their match 8-3. Whiteside and Kate Ovelman, the No. 3 team, also pulled out a victory in their match, 8-6. Rice's No. 2 team, however, won its match and pulled out a victory for the team.

"Our doubles has been really strong," Lion Carly Drum said. "It's risen to a new level. We've just been playing really well and it'll come together, we're just missing little points."

More than just the little things were missing for Penn State against VCU. The No. 1 and 2 doubles teams for Penn State both fell 4-8 to the hard-hitting Rams.

Despite a difficult 8-6 victory by Whiteside and Ovelman, VCU took the point in doubles.

Singles players who usually come up strong for the Lions fell flat to the ever-solid play of the Rams. VCU snatched victory from Penn State's top five singles players.

Luff was able to gain a victory (6-2, 6-7, 7-6), but the point was not enough to pull the Lions out of the hole.

With a 2-11 record, it's no secret the Lions have struggled recently, but Whiteside said they fight hard to stay afloat in tough matches. Bard said she respects the constant effort and realizes it takes determination.

"I know they've had problems, but Penn State really fought hard," Bard said. "The big thing was they made us play and they didn't just roll over and die."

Whiteside also realizes how difficult it is for her team to face such experienced teams, but said the fact that they bounce back after losses shows a lot of drive.

"Even though these teams are high-ranked on paper, we come in and face them head on," Whiteside said. "It shows they have a lot of confidence in themselves."