Marshall University Athletics
@Herd_Tennis Begins Five-Match Homestand Against Penn State
2/23/2017 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
The Marshall women's tennis team returns home to begin a five-match homestand Friday evening when it hosts the Penn State Nittany Lions. First serve is set for 5 p.m.
The Herd will play against four teams from the Big Ten Conference this season. In addition to playing Penn State Friday, the Herd has defeated Wisconsin and Minnesota and will host Maryland on Mar. 11.
HAVE YOU HERD?
Marshall enters Friday's match ranked 37th in the country. It is the highest ranking for the Herd since 2011. The Herd is 5-4 following losses against Louisville and West Virginia. The Herd has dropped consecutive matches after starting the season 5-2. Marshall is led by Maddie Silver, who has compiled an 8-1 singles record. Silver has won seven consecutive matches with six of the wins coming at the No. 3 spot. Silver won at the No. 2 spot in her last match against West Virginia. Derya Turhan and Stephanie Smith have 6-2 records playing primarily at the Nos. 1 and 2 spots, respectively. Rachael Morales is 6-3 playing at the Nos. 4 and 5 spots. Silver (No. 82) and Turhan (No. 122) are ranked in singles play. It is the second time this season that the Herd has two ranked singles players. Turhan began the season at No. 90 and Silver began the season at No. 122.
Turhan and Anna Pomyatinskaya are the Herd's top doubles pairing. The duo is 6-2 at the No. 1 spot this season. Smith and Daniela Dankanych are 6-3 at the No. 3 spot.
SCOUTING THE NITTANY LIONS
Penn State is 3-4 this season and has lost three of its last four matches after starting the season 2-1. The Nittany Lions were shut out by Ohio State in their last match, 7-0. Dasha Sapogova leads the Nittany Lions with a 4-2 singles record at the Nos. 3 and 4 spots. Samantha Smith and Shannon Hanley each possess 4-3 singles records for Penn State. Katia Blik has a 3-3 record for the Nittany Lions at the No. 1 spot. Blik is the lone ranked singles player for the Nittany Lions at No. 89. Smith and Hanley lead Penn State with a 3-2 doubles record at the No. 3 spot. Bennett Dunn and Jacqueline Zuhse are 3-3 at the No. 2 spot.
THE LAST MEETING
Penn State 6, Marshall 1
Feb. 28, 2016
The Herd won just one singles match against the Nittany Lions in a 6-1 loss. The loss was the fourth consecutive defeat for the Herd. That losing streak reached six matches and was not snapped until a win at home against West Virginia on Mar. 11.
Rachael Morales earned the lone win for the Herd, defeating Katia Blik in straight sets at the No. 2 spot, 6-2, 6-1.
#ONEHERD
For the latest information on Marshall women's tennis, follow @Herd_Tennis on Twitter, @herdtennis on Instagram and Herd Tennis on Facebook.
UP NEXT
The Herd continues its five-match homestand Sunday morning when it takes on the Columbia Lions. First serve is set for 11 a.m.
