CAMBRIDGE, Mass.  – No. 38 Harvard women's tennis (18-3, 4-1 Ivy) dropped its first Ivy contest of the season this afternoon, falling to No. 68 Penn (16-7, 4-2 Ivy), 4-2. 

How it Happened

The Crimson and the Quakers split the first two doubles matches as Natalie Block and Sany Gawande collected a 6-3 victory at the No. 3 spot.  Penn would ultimately go on to grab the doubles point with a win at the No. 1 position. 

Harvard quickly got on the board, as Charlotte Owensby and Gawande picked up a pair of straight set victories.

Owensby opened the day for the Crimson by downing Eileen Wang (Penn), 6-4, 6-2 at the No. 3 position.  Soon after, Gawande pulled Harvard into the lead by dropping Maya Urata (Penn) at the No. 6 spot, 6-4, 6-3. 

Despite its strong efforts, the Quakers would go on to take the next three singles matches and clinch their 4-2 victory over the Crimson. 

Harvard Highlights

• The duo of Block and Gawande hold the second most doubles wins of any Crimson pairing, improving to 9-3 with their victory this afternoon. 
• Charlotte Owensby became the seventh Crimson player to eclipse double digit victories in 2023-24 with her win over Eileen Wang (Penn).  The sophomore is now on a three-match win streak. 
• Sany Gawande continues to perform for the Crimson at the No. 6 spot, improving to 11-5 overall and 8-3 in dual action for 2023-24. 

Results

Harvard – 2, Penn – 4
Doubles

1. Sabine Rutlauka/Eileen Wang (Penn) def. Holly Fischer/Stephanie Yakoff, 6-3
2. Esha Velaga/Maya Urata (Penn) def. Rachel Arbitman/Kavya Karra, 6-1
3. Natalie Block/Sany Gawande def. Iris Gallo/Sasha Motlagh (Penn), 6-3

Order of finish: 2, 3, 1
Singles

1. Sabine Rutlauka (Penn) def. Holly Fischer, 6-0, 7-6 (5)
2. No. 105 Esha Velaga (Penn) def. Stephanie Yakoff, 5-7, 6-0, 6-3
3. Charlotte Owensby def. Eileen Wang (Penn), 6-4, 6-2
4. Gavriella Smith (Penn) def. Maxi Duncan, 6-7 (3), 6-2, 6-0
5. Kate Kim vs. Iris Gallo (Penn), 2-6, 6-4, 3-2 DNF
6. Sany Gawande def. Maya Urata (Penn), 6-4, 6-3

Order of finish: 3, 6, 1, 2, 4

Next Up

The Crimson will hit the road next weekend to battle No. 72 Penn and No. 50 Princeton on Saturday, April 20 and Sunday, April 21.