Freshman Leigh Ann Merryman served her way to two wins, but it wasn't enough for the Penn State's women's tennis team, which lost to Ohio State 5-2 at the Penn State Tennis Center.

The loss to the No. 40 Buckeyes (12-5, 4-0) marked the first home loss by the Nittany Lions (10-5, 2-2 Big Ten) this season.

In her doubles match, Merryman — teamed with Teresa Whiteside — coasted to a 8-2 victory over Erica Fisk and Claudia Castro.

Even when the Buckeye pair thought they had the upper hand, Merryman posted clutch shots. Ahead comfortably in the match, Merryman chased down a lob and returned a lob of her own. Fisk dumped her shot in the net.

"We were really pumped," Merryman said. "We really wanted to win."

The Lions came close in those other two doubles matches, but couldn't win the big points down the stretch. Against tough competition and their backs against the wall, Pilar Montgomery and Rebecca Ho staged a comeback after a 7-4 deficit. The pair broke Monica Rincon's serve to close within 7-6.

"It was a tough match," Montgomery said. "We did very well coming back. We couldn't quite close it out."

Ho started the service game by hitting two consecutive volleys into the net. Kristy Dascoli closed out the match with two winners.

The Buckeyes sealed the win before the Lions even scored, notching a 5-0 lead.

"Overall, I'm proud of them," coach Buffy Baker said. "They left it all out on the court. Ohio State stepped it up with confidence when it had to."

The Lions closed out the match with two straight-sets wins by Merryman and Ho.

"Rebecca played a very clean match," Baker said.

"She beat a very good opponent. (Rincon) looked mentally ready to break down all day. She did."

Merryman went on the offensive early. She spiced up her game, using drop shots, slices, and solid forehands and backhands to build a 4-2 lead in the second set. In finishing Lindsay Williams, Merryman served an ace in her last game. She wasn't completely satisfied with the win.

"I hit my first serve like it was my second," Merryman said, noting she took off some pace. "She wasn't doing much with it."

Montgomery had her hands full with 2000 Big Ten player of the year Dascoli. Down one set and 2-1 in the second, Montgomery minced words with Dascoli over close calls.

Montgomery promptly won two games to take the lead. The match put both players on edge, leading Dascoli to tell the crowd to "shut up" in the ninth game of the second set.

Dascoli called a Montgomery shot out before it landed. Dascoli closed out Montgomery in a second set tie-break, 9-7.

Baker has all confidence that her senior star will bounce back next week against Michigan and Michigan State.

"I always know I can count on her," Baker said.

"It's her consistency."