After an 11-day layoff, the Penn State women's tennis team looks to reverse their fortune today against American University and Sunday at Big Ten foe Iowa.
In the Lions last outing, the Nebraska Cornhuskers dealt Penn State (9-3, 2-0) a 4-3 loss ending a season-high nine-game winning streak. With momentum slowed, the Lions are ready to slice some backhands and notch another victory.
Granting the Lions don't overlook American, Penn State should have the ball rolling when they continue conference play against the Hawkeyes.
"They are younger than us," senior Pilar Montgomery said. "But, they're always good. We're better this year. We have more experience."
The Hawkeys finished fifth in the Big Ten last season, including a dominating 7-0 performance against the Lions. Considering that fact, which Penn State team does Iowa expect to arrive on campus on Sunday?
"I don't think Iowa will take us lightly," senior Teresa Whiteside said. "For all it's worth, I hope they do so we can take them by surprise."
This pair of seniors should have a lot to say about that. Montgomery has consistently played solid at the number one in singles. Whiteside and doubles teammate Leigh Ann Merryman make opponents shiver. The pair has lost just one match against intra-state rival Penn.
"The key to success in doubles is teamwork," coach Buffy Baker said. "Teamwork comes pretty naturally for both of them."
Consistently, the Lions have used success on the doubles court to rollover onto the singles court. Against Nebraska, because of weather, singles came before doubles. The Lions had difficulty generating momentum of their own. The break proved beneficial because that hunger for competition is at a high. No one likes thinking about a loss for 11 days.
"We are dying to play Iowa," Whiteside said. "But we are making sure that we don't overlook American."
The only question mark about American is where are they going to play? If weather looks good, the Lions will play at the Sarni Tennis Center. Otherwise, action stays indoors.
Heading into the weekend, the Lions stand pat at 50 in the ITA rankings and the Hawkeyes sit at 36. At this point in time, mum's the word on national rankings.
"Rankings are important to us," Whiteside said. "But, wins are ultimately what matters the most. Our goal is to win Big Ten's and in order to do that, we need to win on Sunday."
