Box Score

INDIANA, Pa. – Jarka Petercakova (Bratislava, Slovakia/Sport Gymnasium) handled Kiefer Shaw at the No. 1 singles spot, but it was one of just two wins for IUP women's tennis as the 36th-ranked Crimson Hawks fell to 18th-ranked California (Pa.) 7-2 at the Maple Street Courts on Thursday.
 
The match decided the regular season Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division title, as Cal improves to 14-2 overall and 5-0 in the league while IUP falls to 15-2 and 4-1 with one conference match left to play.
 
Not only was it a battle between the two best teams in the PSAC West, but also the top two teams in the Atlantic Region. Cal came in ranked first in the region by the ITA while the Crimson Hawks followed in second. The NCAA Atlantic Region rankings have IUP at the top, while the Vulcans are third.
 
Petercakova was the highlight victory for the Crimson Hawks, as she defeated Shaw 6-4, 6-0. Shaw entered as the fourth-ranked singles player in the region while Petercakova is sixth. Shaw was ranked 43rd in the nation in the fall and finished last season ranked 29th in Division II.
 
Claudia Menes (Spain/San Eutiquio) defeated Veronika Mikulis at the four spot by a score of 7-5, 6-4, picking up IUP's second win.
 
Sophie Butland (Taunton, Somerset U.K./Bishop Fox's Community School) and Rachel Wood (Nottingham, U.K./West Bridgrord) both went three sets at three and five, respectively. Butland fell to Jasi Witherspoon 6-7 (5-7), 6-4, 10-8 and Wood lost to Holly Bennett 6-3, 1-6, 6-4.
 
The Crimson Hawks finished their regular season with four straight road matches, starting with a weekend trip to West Virginia where they face Charleston and West Virginia State, which is ranked second in the region by the NCAA.
 
For up-to-date game information, visit www.IUPAthletics.com and follow IUP women's tennis on Twitter @IUPCrimsonHawk and @IUPtennis.