LATROBE, Pa. – The Penn State Altoona men's tennis team started its 2021-22 schedule on Saturday, competing against a pair of non-conference opponents in the Saint Vincent College Fall Invitational. The Lions suffered a 5-4 loss to Waynesburg University to start the day, then took a 5-0 defeat from St. Vincent in their second match.

Match One: Waynesburg 5, Penn State Altoona 4

Penn State Altoona (0-2) found itself behind after doubles play and could not recover, as Waynesburg edged out a one-point victory in the match.

The Yellow Jackets built an early 2-1 lead after doubles, earning wins in the No. 1 and No. 3 matches. Waynesburg and Penn State Altoona proceeded to split the six singles matches, and the Lions fell short in the overall match by one.

Penn State Altoona salvaged a win in doubles for its first point of the day, as the duo of Micah Brinker (Lock Haven, PA/PA Cyber)/Casey Hess (Annville, PA/Annville-Cleona) battled to an 8-7 (7-3) victory in the No. 2 spot.

The Lions got off to a good start in the singles portion of the match, as Joey Toth (South Park, PA/South Park) got a 5-3, retired win in the No. 1 slot. Brinker added a 6-3, 6-2 victory in the No. 4 singles match, and Kirk Eichenlaub (Hollidaysburg, PA/Hollidaysburg) prevailed 6-1, 6-2 in the No. 5 match.

But Waynesburg's wins in the No. 2, No. 3, and No. 6 singles matches were enough to hang on for the win.

The victories by Hess and Toth represented their first collegiate wins.

Match Two: St. Vincent 5, Penn State Altoona 0

The Lions' second match of the day was played to decision, and the Bearcats swept doubles play and won the No. 1 and No. 2 singles matches to serve Penn State Altoona with a 5-0 loss.

St. Vincent posted wins of 8-3, 8-4, and 8-2 in doubles, then won the first two singles matches by scores of 6-0, 6-0 and 6-1, 6-3.

Next up, Penn State Altoona men's tennis will host non-conference opponent Juniata College in the Lions' home opener on Wednesday, September 29 at 4:00 p.m. That match is scheduled to be played outside on campus at the team's home Adler Tennis Courts. In the event of inclement weather, the match will be moved to an indoor venue or rescheduled.