By: Laura Chapman
Assistant Sports Information Director
chapmal@juniata.edu • juniatasports.net
Photo: Jennifer Jones
HUNTINGDON, Pa. – In the closest match of the year for the Juniata College men's tennis team, the Eagles came out on top of Moravian College, 5-4, to improve to 10-0 and 3-0 in Landmark Conference play. Juniata is now in sole possession of first place in the league standings after handing the Greyhounds their first conference loss of the season.
The Eagles found themselves in an early hole when they came out of doubles play down 2-1. Senior Justin Wisniewski (Moorestown, N.J. / Moorestown) and sophomore Bryan Gregory (Glen Mills, Pa. / Garnet Valley) grabbed the one doubles win for Juniata at the No. 3 position 8-1.
In singles play, freshman Dean Polisena (Adelaide, Australia/Saint Ignatius) continued his unbeaten streak since the start of the dual match season, winning his tenth consecutive No. 1 match, 6-2, 6-3. Wisniewski also won his tenth straight singles match win a 6-3, 7-6 win at No. 2 to tie the match 3-3.
Gregory stormed through No. 6 singles 6-0, 6-0 and tied the match for a second time, forcing sophomore Mike Lifshitz (Worcester, Mass./Worcester Academy), at No. 5 singles, to become the deciding match. Lifshitz rebounded from a tiebreak loss earlier at No. 2 doubles with partner senior Elliott Perow (Huntingdon, Pa./Huntingdon) to claim his singles match.
After dropping the first set 6-2, Lifshitz fought his way to the 7-5 second set win and sealed off the victory for Juniata with a 6-2 win in the third set. The Eagles face McDaniel College at home this Friday, April 4, at 3 p.m. before head on the road for a Landmark match at Catholic University of America this Saturday.
Juniata 5 Moravian 4
Singles
1. Dean Polisena (JUNM) def. Matt Tuorto (MOR) 6-2, 6-3
2. Justin Wisniewski (JUNM) def. John Wylie (MOR) 6-3, 7-6
3. Lewis Cooper (MOR) def. Elliott Perow (JUNM) 7-6, 6-0
4. Mike Antonis (MOR) def. Logan Moore (JUNM) 4-6, 6-1, 6-4
5. Michael Lifshitz (JUNM) def. Giovanni Lombardi (MOR) 2-6, 7-5, 6-2
6. Bryan Gregory (JUNM) def. Dan Schmucker (MOR) 6-0, 6-0
Doubles
1. Matt Tuorto/John Wylie (MOR) def. Dean Polisena/Logan Moore (JUNM) 8-4
2. Lewis Cooper/Mike Antonis (MOR) def. Elliott Perow/Michael Lifshitz (JUNM) 9-8 (7-5)
3. Justin Wisniewski/Bryan Gregory (JUNM) def. Giovanni Lombardi/C.J. Widdifield (MOR) 8-1
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