Cincinnati, Ohio – The Youngstown State women's tennis team won a spirited doubles point and was dominate in singles beating Cleveland State 4-1 on Sunday to claim its ninth overall postseason Horizon League title and fourth in five years at the Lindner Family Tennis Center.
With the victory, the Penguins advance to the NCAA Tournament for the ninth time in program history. The 2026 NCAA selection show is set for Monday at 4:30 p.m.
YSU (13-11) won its third match in as many days after entering the tournament as the No. 3 seed. Cleveland State (10-15) was also the third straight day of action as the fourth seed.
In the first HL tournament in the state of Ohio since 1996, the Penguins were not to be denied and winning an instant classic doubles point provided the momentum to have a strong singles effort in the two-and-a-half hour match.
Lorena Cedeno and Sarah Partida Garcia picked up a 6-3 win at No. 3 doubles but, one and two were hotly contested.
At No. 1, the Vikings rallied for a 7-5 win and the match at No. 2 doubles was a back-and-forth contest. In a tiebreaker, Line Greyling and Yeseniia Ovcharova fought off a match point then scored the final two of the contest to pick up the 7-6 (6) triumph and give YSU the early lead.
In singles, the Penguins came out firing on all cylinders.
At No. 6, Yoana Dudova cruised to a 6-3, 6-1 victory while Cedeno won her match at No. 2 by a score of 6-2, 6-1.
The Vikings picked up a victory at No. 5 singles to stave off defeat and pull within 3-1.
At No. 3, Ovcharova was able to win the clinching contest with a 6-3, 6-3 victory and set off a jubilant celebration under the Ohio sunshine.
At No. 1, Hanna Telzynska was leading 5-3 in her second set after dropping her first. At No. 5, Partida battled for a 7-6 (13-11) win in her first set.
It marked the second straight year that YSU defeated the Vikings in the title match.
