ALTOONA, Pa.- The Juniata men's tennis team defeated Penn St.-Altoona, 8-1, Thursday evening.
The Eagles went 3-0 in doubles play to open up the match. Ilia Buralkin (Moscow, Russia / -) and Xavier Huerta (Grand Prairie, Texas / Mansfield Lake Ridge H.S.) were victorious at first doubles with a score of 8-2. Trey France (Blue Bell, Pa. / Wissachichon) and Robert Singer (Olney, Md. / Sherwood HS) won 8-4 at second doubles and William Michelson (Old Mystic, Conn. / Stonington) and Seth Strawser (Richfield, Pa. / Juniata HS) had a close, 8-7 victory at second doubles. The duo had to play a tiebreaker set which resulted in a 7-4 victory for Juniata.
Juniata won the next three matches to extend their lead to 6-0 against the Lions. Michelson had an easy, 6-1, 6-0 at third singles, Buralkin won, 6-3, 6-2 at first singles, and Huerta claimed a 6-2 and close 6-4 victory at second singles. Penn St.-Altoona got their lone victory at fourth singles but it wasn't enough as the Eagles led, 6-0 and then took the next two matches. Singer won in a close 6-4 set and 6-2 set at fifth singles and France won in a close contested match at sixth singles. France won, 6-7 (4-7), 7-6 (7-5), and 11-9.
Juniata returns to the courts this Saturday as they travel to Hood College at 1 PM.
