(Posted March 28, 2009)

MADISON, N.J. -- The Juniata College women's tennis team won its fourth straight match, fifth in its last six matches, with a 5-4 victory over Drew University, Saturday afternoon in Madison, N.J.

The win improved Juniata's record to 8-4 overall, 2-0 in the Landmark Conference. The Eagles' eight wins this season is the most since the 1999 season, when Juniata finished with an 8-5 record.

"I think what we're seeing is all the pieces in place, and match by match we are performing well," said Juniata head coach Beth Bleil. "The ladies are looking to improve by doing the small things well, and taking one match at a time."

Freshman Katie Steinour (Gettysburg, Pa./Gettysburg) clinched the Juniata win with her three-set win at no. 6 singles, posting a 6-2, 3-6, 6-1 victory over Drew's Rebecca Olderman.

Freshman Katie Healy (Pittsburgh, Pa./Mt. Lebanon) won her seventh straight singles match, with a 6-4, 6-2 win over Kristin Brown at no. 2 singles. Junior Maggie Wolenter (Audubon, N.J./Audubon) posted a 6-2, 7-6 victory over Stephanie Leondis at no. 3 singles, while freshman Jenny Wang (Huntingdon, Pa./Huntingdon Area) notched a 6-2, 6-4 victory over Amber Porzio at fourth-flight singles.

"Katie Steinour's win came in a long match that required patience and diligence," said Bleil. "Katie Healy also had a strong performance today, and started off our wins in singles."

Juniata's lone doubles win came at no. 3 doubles, where Lauren Perow (Huntingdon, Pa./Huntingdon Area) and Steinour logged an 8-4 victory over Catherine Jacobs and Olderman.

The Eagles return to the court on Wednesday, April 1, when they host Penn State-Harrisburg to open a three-match week. Juniata will travel to Stevenson University on Friday, April 3, before returning home to host Goucher on Saturday, April 4.

A Juniata win in any of the three contests will give the Eagles their second-highest win total in program history, while two wins would match the program record of 10 wins set in 1988.

"In general, the ladies aren't getting too excited about this yet," said Bleil. "They're happy about the wins, but this is only the beginning of what they're hoping to achieve this season."

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