By: Laura Chapman
Assistant Sports Information Director
chapmal@juniata.edu • juniatasports.net
HUNTINGDON, Pa. – In the 2014 home opener the Juniata College men's tennis team remained unbeaten on the year, improving to 8-0, with a 9-0 sweep of Messiah College. The Eagles are now set to face Landmark Conference foe Moravian College Sunday, March 30, at 1 p.m.
"I see us progressing," said head coach Jason Cohen. "All of the matches we've played so far were winnable. I feel like, for the most part every match, we have played well. We have played to our potential. That's been important and gives me confidence moving into the match against Moravian."
The No. 3 doubles pair of senior Elliott Perow (Huntingdon, Pa./Huntingdon Area) and sophomore Mike Lifshitz (Worcester, Mass./Worcester Academy) got things started for Juniata claiming the first victory of the day, 8-2. Perow went on to win the first singles match at the No. 3 position, charging through set one for the 6-0 victory and finishing out the match with a 6-2 win in the second set.
At No. 1 doubles, freshman Dean Polisena (Adelaide, Australia/Saint Ignatius) and sophomore Logan Moore (Chadds Ford, Pa./Unionville) earned the 8-2 win for the 2-0 Juniata lead. The pair has now won four consecutive matches and Polisena earned his eighth win at No. 1 singles, 6-2, 6-2 to clinch the match for Juniata. Senior Justin Wisniewski (Moorestown, N.J./Moorestown) and sophomore Bryan Gregory (Glen Mills, Pa./Garney Valley) closed out the doubles sweep with an 8-5 win at the No. 2 position.
Wisniewski handled his match well winning 6-3, 6-2. Lifshitz earned the seventh win of the day for the Eagles at No. 6 singles 6-2, 6-1 and Moore followed suit with the 6-2, 6-2 win at the No. 5 position. Gregory rounded out the day for Juniata with a 6-0 win in the first set before closing the book with the tiebreak win to take the second set 7-6 (2).
The Eagles stay at home to face Moravian this Sunday.
"Last year [against Moravian] we beat them 6-3 and I hope to do the same if not better this year," said Cohen. "We're an improved team from last year so I know the guys are expecting similar results."
Juniata 9 Messiah 0
Singles
1. Dean Polisena (JUNM) def. Michael Brookhart (MESSM) 6-2, 6-2
2. Justin Wisniewski (JUNM) def. David Wichert (MESSM) 6-3, 6-2
3. Elliott Perow (JUNM) def. Peter Shuck (MESSM) 6-0, 6-2
4. Bryan Gregory (JUNM) def. Devin Esch (MESSM) 6-0, 7-6 (7-2)
5. Logan Moore (JUNM) def. Dustin Innerst (MESSM) 6-2, 6-2
6. Michael Lifshitz (JUNM) def. Michael Kovacs (MESSM) 6-2, 6-1
Doubles
1. Dean Polisena/Logan Moore (JUNM) def. Michael Brookhart/David Wichert (MESSM) 8-2
2. Justin Wisniewski/Bryan Gregory (JUNM) def. Peter Shuck/Devin Esch (MESSM) 8-5
3. Elliott Perow/Michael Lifshitz (JUNM) def. Dustin Innerst/Michael Kovacs (MESSM) 8-2
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