Men’s Tennis Returns Home, Defeats Juniata 7-2
ALTOONA, Pa. – The Penn State Altoona men's tennis team posted an impressive victory on Wednesday evening at the Adler Courts, when the Lions defeated non-conference opponent Juniata College 7-2.
The Lions (5-2) returned home after a string of three straight away matches to defeat Juniata (2-4) by a decisive margin, while both teams battled brisk and windy elements in the outdoor match. It marked Penn State Altoona's first outdoor match on campus since its season opener on October 3.
Penn State Altoona won two out of three doubles matches to earn an early advantage. Juniata won the No. 1 doubles match 8-4, but the Lions posted wins in the No. 2 and No. 3 spots. In No. 2 doubles, the team of Nick Beard (Manns Choice, PA/Bedford)/Ethan Schneider (Broad Top, PA/Tussey Mountain) prevailed 8-3 for their second win of the season together. The duo of Javier Pozo (Peru/The Southern Cross School)/Emmett Hibbs (Richfield, PA/East Juniata) followed with their third win of the season, an 8-2 triumph in the No. 3 spot.
Penn State Altoona then won five out of six singles matches to finish with a five-point win in the overall match. In No. 2 singles, Casey Hess (Annville, PA/Annville-Cleona) picked up his fifth victory of the season with a 6-2, 6-1 decision over his opponent. Beard earned a 6-4, 6-2 win in the No. 3 match for his fifth win of the year, and Hibbs played to a 6-2, 6-0 triumph in the No. 4 spot for his fourth win. Schneider rallied from a first-set loss in the No. 5 match, winning it 4-6, 6-2, 10-8 for his fifth victory of the season. Pozo rounded out the singles lineup with a 6-1, 6-0 win in the No. 6 match, representing his third win of the year.
Penn State Altoona men's tennis will return to Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference play this upcoming weekend. With inclement weather expected, the Lions will likely reorganize their current schedule of facing Pitt-Bradford on Saturday, April 1 and hosting Mount Aloysius College on Sunday, April 2.
Updates to the team's weekend schedule are expected within the next day.
