RALEIGH, N.C.; February 4, 2007 ¨C The Penn State women¡¯s tennis team (0-3) dropped its second-straight decision to a nationally-ranked team as #32 Florida International notched a 6-1 win over the Nittany Lions in Raleigh, N.C.

Junior Jenny Shular (Peachtree City, Ga.) and sophomore Lauren Holzberg (Easton, Conn.) came out on top in a doubles nail-biter, topping Shilla D¡¯Armas and Marijana Cutuk by a 9-8 (4) margin. However, the Golden Panthers turned things around to clinch the doubles point with a pair of wins. Paula Zabala and Nikkita Fountain defeated senior Sasha Abraham (Hyderabad, India) and freshman Lauren McCarthy (Danbury, Conn.), 8-5, while Priscilla Castillo and Egle Petrauskaite topped freshman Sarah Lotto (Toronto, Ontario) and senior Andreea Niculescu (Montreal, Quebec), 8-4.

In singles action, Florida International had a dominating presence from the beginning, and never let up. Zabala topped Abraham (4-6, 6-4, 6-1), Petrauskaite defeated Niculescu (7-6, (4), 7-5), and Cutuk beat Shular (3-6, 6-2, 6-3). McCarthy fell (6-1, 6-4) to D¡¯Armas and Dohanics dropped (6-3, 6-4) to Maria Pazo. In the final singles match of the day, Penn State posted its lone win as Lotto topped Castillo (8-5).

¡°Unfortunately, we lost five matches in three sets over the past two days,¡± said head coach Buffy Baker. ¡°Sadly, that was the difference in the scores. We will have a good week of practice to prepare for next weekend¡¯s action.¡±

The Nittany Lions will battle Princeton and Temple next weekend in Princeton, New Jersey. Action begins Saturday, February 10, at 2 p.m.

Singles
1. Paula Zabala (FIU) defeated Sasha Abraham (PSU) (4-6, 6-4, 6-1)
2. Egle Petrauskaite (FIU) defeated Andreea Niculescu (PSU) (7-6, (4), 7-5)
3. Marijana Cutuk (FIU) defeated Jenny Shular (PSU) (3-6, 6-2, 6-3).
4. Shilla D¡¯Armas (FIU) defeated Lauren McCarthy (PSU) (6-1, 6-4)
5. Maria Pazo (FIU) defeated Dorothy Dohanics (PSU) (6-3, 6-4)
6. Sarah Lotto (PSU) defeated Priscilla Castillo (FIU) (8-5)

Doubles
1. Paula Zabala/Nikkita Fountain (FIU) defeated Sasha Abraham/Lauren McCarthy (PSU) 8-5
2. Priscilla Castillo/Egle Petrauskaite (FIU) defeated Sarah Lotto/Andreea Niculescu (PSU) 8-4
3. Jenny Shular/Lauren Holzberg (PSU) defeated Shilla D¡¯Armas/Marijana Cutuk (FIU) 9-8 (4)