(Posted March 22, 2011)

STEVENSON, Md. -- Juniata College women's tennis had to battle through illness and the fact they were a player short on Tuesday, but eventually fought their way to a 5-4 win over Stevenson University.

Juniata (5-6) clinched the match when Hilary Walsh (Waynesboro, Pa./Waynesboro Area) completed a super-tiebreak win over Stevenson's Jordan Rupard at no. 5 singles. Walsh posted an 8-6 victory in the super-tiebreaker set, Rupard won the first set 7-6 (7-4). Walsh rebounded to win set two, 7-5, to force the super-tiebreak.

"Hilary played her mind out well into the pitch dark," said Juniata head coach Beth Bleil. "Her match was epic."

The Eagles were forced to yield points at no. 6 singles and no. 3 doubles, when Rachel Adams (McLean, Va./Jakarta Int'l School) was unable to compete due to illness.

After Juniata captured only one of the remaining two doubles matches that were played out, with Megan Phillips (Jefferson Hills, Pa./Thomas Jefferson) and Stacie Beegle (Schellsburg, Pa./Chestnut Ridge) posting an 8-6 win over Stevenson's Julie Strong and Maura Bernstein at no. 1 doubles, the Eagles were left needing to take four of the five played out singles matches to get the win.

Juniata accomplished the feat.

Phillips, Beegle, and Lauren Perow (Huntingdon, Pa./Huntingdon Area) captured matches at no. 1 through no. 3 singles in straight sets, while Stevenson's Stephanie Eyler won at no. 4 singles. Coupled with the Mustangs' default win at no. 6 singles, the match was tied at 4-4 with Walsh still on the court at no. 5 singles.

"Perow really played well for us today as well - she played a nice, controlled match," said Bleil. "From top to bottom, everyone turned in strong performances and we had a complete team win."

Juniata returns to the court this Sunday, March 27, when the Eagles host the University of Scranton in a Landmark Conference match starting at 12:00 p.m.

Women's Tennis
Juniata 5, Stevenson 4

Doubles

1 - Megan Phillips/Stacie Beegle (JUN) def. Julie Strong/Maura Bernstein, 8-6
2 - Wendy Ogbolu/Stephanie Eyler (STEV) def. Lauren Perow/Hilary Walsh, 9-8 (7-3)
3 - Jordan Rupard/Rachael Sandora (STEV) by default

Singles
1 - Phillips (JUN) def. Bernstein (STEV), 6-3, 6-2
2 - Beegle (JUN) def. Ogbolu (STEV), 6-2, 6-2
3 - Perow (JUN) def. Strong (STEV), 6-3, 6-3
4 - Eyler (STEV) def. Laura Gregory (JUN), 6-1, 6-0
5 - Walsh (JUN) def. Rupard (STEV), 6-7 (4-7), 7-5, 8-6
6 - Michelle Huber (STEV) by default

-30-

Our readers respond...

Be the first to provide a response.

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