(Posted April 8, 2006)

HUNTINGDON, Pa. ? The Juniata College men?s tennis team had made a habit of winning tight conference matches this season, but on Saturday the trend reversed itself as the Eagles suffered a 4-3 set-back to Moravian College in Commonwealth Conference action. It marked the first conference loss of the season for Juniata as the Eagles are now 12-2 overall and 4-1 in conference play. The Greyhounds improved to 3-8 on the year and 2-3 in Commonwealth action.

The Greyhounds took two of the three doubles matches to earn the doubles point, and then held on as the two teams split the six singles matches.

Making his first appearance of the season in the singles lineup, Juniata freshman Casey Chew (Phoenixville/Phoenixville) earned on the three singles wins for the Blue and Gold as he rallied from a one-set deficit to claim a 1-6, 6-3, 6-1 victory at the sixth singles position.

The Eagles then got straight set wins at third singles and fourth singles. Brian Sykes (Gateway Regional/Woodburry Heights, N.J.) fought to a 6-4, 6-3 victory at the third singles spot. Brandon Long (Lebanon/Lebanon) then rolled to a 6-0, 6-0 win at fourth singles for the Blue and Gold.

Juniata dropped the first and second singles matches by identical scores as Neil Eicher (Altoona/Altoona) and Jonathan Skoner (Central Catholic/Pittsburgh) both fell by 6-2, 6-3 scores. Ryan Navarro (Bishop Guilfoyle/Altoona) narrowly dropped the first set and fell 7-5, 6-4 at fifth singles.

Juniata picked up an 8-6 win at first doubles as the team of Eicher and Long claimed the win, but Juniata dropped both the second and third doubles matches by 8-6 scores.

Despite the loss, the Eagles may still be in position to earn the second-seed for the upcoming Commonwealth Conference postseason. Juniata will return to action with a non-conference match at Frostburg State on Monday.

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Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.