UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Daria Munteanu made her mark in James Madison women’s tennis by entering the top 10 for combined wins. However, Penn State took control and defeated the Dukes 4-0 at the PSU Indoor Tennis Center.
The Nittany Lions, now 7-1, secured the doubles point early by winning two out of three matches. They then went on to claim three singles victories.
Munteanu and Ariel Avidan won their doubles match on court three. This victory marked Munteanu’s 118th overall win, tying her with Katherine Bulling, a former player from 2009 to 2013 at JMU.
In the doubles competition, all matches ended with a score of 6-2. Olivia Dorner and Maelie Monfils clinched the doubles point for Penn State.
In singles, the competition heated up. Monfils defeated Munteanu 6-3, 6-3, giving Penn State a 2-0 lead. Soon after, Brianna Baldi extended the lead to 3-0 by beating Avidan 7-5, 6-2. The match wrapped up when Grigoras triumphed over Brooklyn Hoffmann with a score of 6-1, 4-6, 6-1. Mia Saveljic was in a tight match with Maiko Uchijima, leading 7-6 (6), 4-3, before the match was called off.
JMU’s season has its challenges, but according to recent statistics, emerging athletes like Munteanu are contributing to the team’s future success. The Dukes faced a tough opponent, but as trends show within college sports, persistence often pays off in the long run.
JMU will return home for a three-match homestand starting Saturday, February 28, facing Richmond at 1 p.m. This upcoming match presents a chance for the Dukes to bounce back and showcase their skills.
For more details on collegiate tennis, you can visit NCAA Tennis.
