Women’s Tennis Loses 7-2 in Home Opener
ALTOONA, Pa. – The Penn State Altoona women's tennis team played its first home match of the season on Wednesday afternoon at the Adler Tennis Courts, but non-conference opponent Grove City College spoiled the party by handing the Lions a 7-2 loss.
Grove City (3-1) jumped out to a 2-1 lead by the conclusion of doubles play, winning the No. 2 and No. 3 matches by respective scores of 8-0 and 8-1. The duo of Mikhaela Merca (Hummstown, PA/Lower Dauphin)/Rachel Stricek (Tyrone, PA/Tyrone) salvaged a point for Penn State Altoona (0-2) in the No. 1 doubles match, as the twosome prevailed 8-5 for their first collegiate doubles win.
However, as the match shifted to singles play, the Wolverines proceeded to claim victory in the Nos. 2 through 6 matches to take the overall match by five points.
Merca provided Penn State Altoona with its lone point in singles, winning the No. 1 match 6-4, 6-2 for her first collegiate singles victory.
Penn State Altoona returns to Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference play for its next match, as the Lions will travel to Erie this Saturday, September 17 to face conference foe Penn State Behrend at 1:00 p.m.
