Attention Penn students -- it is time to jump on the women's tennis bandwagon.
With their highest ranking in Penn history at No. 31, the Quakers have momentum on their side -- the reigning Ivy League champs have won their last three matches by a total score of 20-1.
This mark includes this weekend's 7-0 sweep of Seton Hall and a 6-1 drubbing of Penn State.
Whereas the win over an unranked Pirates team was expected, there was much more tension leading up to the match against the Nittany Lions.
"We haven't beaten Penn State in three years," sophomore Nicole Ptak said. "Because of our history with them, we were probably more excited before that match than we've been all year."
Penn coach Michael Dowd stressed avenging past losses to Penn State.
"He told us that now it's our turn since we have them in our house," freshman Kate Williams said.
Against Penn State, the Quakers set the tone by sweeping the doubles point. Alice Pirsu and Sanela Kunovac led the way with straight set wins.
The Red and Blue stress that while winning is of prime importance, there is also an added edge that comes with blowing out an opponent.
"The difference between winning matches 7-0 and 4-3 is that there is a lot less pressure after we win big," sophomore captain Kunovac said.
"It makes us feel like we can dominate our opponents and that we could count on each other," Williams added.
Last weekend, Pirsu showed her teammates that she could be counted on
Despite recent struggles with a sore right elbow, Pirsu was resilient at No.1 singles, destroying the top seeds from both the Pirates and the Nittany Lions.
"Even if she may not be 100 percent, she is always mentally tough," Kunovac said.
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