Rockets Ready to Freeze Penguins in Friday Match

Friday, February 15

Youngstown, Ohio

6:00 PM

University of Toledo

Youngstown State

Christina Fuller and the Rockets open road play for the 2019 spring season against Youngstown State on Friday at 6:00 p.m.

2/13/2019 2:51:00 PM | Women's Tennis

Toledo, Ohio - The University of Toledo women's tennis team plays its first road match of the spring season against Youngstown State at 6:00 p.m. on Friday at the Western Reserve Tennis Center in Streetsboro, Ohio.

The Rockets were last in action last weekend against Horizon League foes Cleveland State and Wright State at Twos Athletic Club in Toledo. In Friday's clash with Cleveland State the Rockets clinched a tight 4-3 victory. UT swept the Vikings in doubles play and junior Dee Dee Leenabanchong swept Isabella Spindler in two sets at the No. 1 court. Freshman Eileen Carney chipped away at Klara Mrcela during a third set after winning the first 6-2 and dropping the second 4-6. Carney secured a victory at the No. 2 spot with a score of 6-2 in the third set. Freshman Christina Fuller clinched the match for the Rockets with her three-set thriller against Kateryna Avram (6-3, 4-6, 6-2).

On Saturday, Toledo defeated Wright State 5-2 after dropping the doubles point. Leenabanchong, Carney, senior Kokoro Chishaki, and Fuller swept their foes in two sets. Senior Claire Aleck settled in for a three-set battle at the No. 6 position against Grace Whitney after winning the first set 6-2 and dropping the second 2-6. Aleck clinched the win with a score of 10-8 in the tiebreak.

Scouting Youngstown State
Youngstown State went 16-11 last season, posting an 8-1 record within the Horizon League. The Penguins had three 7-0 sweeps. In the Horizon League Championships YSU defeated Cleveland State 4-2 in the semifinals before sweeping UIC 4-0 in the Horizon League finals. The Penguins ended their season at Florida, where they were knocked out of the NCAA regionals by the Gators.

Last season junior Imaan Hassim had an 18-16 singles record and 21-13 doubles record in dual matches and fall tournament competition. In the NCAA tournament against Florida, Hassim's match was left unfinished at the No. 4 position (2-6, 2-4). Fellow junior Cassandra Moraleja posted an 11-19 record in singles, playing at the No. 5 and No. 6 positions.

The Penguins are currently 3-5 this season with a 7-0 sweep of Dayton and victories over UTEP and Saint Francis.

Last Time Against Youngstown State
The Rockets took a 5-2 victory over the Penguins on Feb. 2, 2018. YSU took the doubles point despite Leenabanchong/Colleen O'Brien's on the No. 3 doubles court. Sidnay Huck, Mimi Kendall-Woseley, and Leenabanchong swept their opponents in two sets, while Chishaki and Aleck chipped away at their opponents for the three-set victory.