By: Jennifer Jones
Director of Sports Information
jonesj@juniata.edu • juniatasports.net
HUNTINGDON, Pa. – Spring is in full swing for Juniata College athletics despite the weather suggesting otherwise. Both baseball and softball snuck games in through low temperatures, outdoor track and field held its annual Juniata Invitational and both men and women's tennis teams found success on the court.
Baseball
The Juniata College baseball team hosted Gettysburg College for its 2014 home opener. The Eagles fell 6-3 on a windy Thursday afternoon, loading he bases twice in the bottom of the ninth, but were unable to score the winning run.
Softball
Juniata softball went 1-3 in its first week back after spring break. The Eagles (3-13, 0-2 Landmark) split their home opener with Mount Aloysius College (MAC) on Saturday, winning 8-6 in game one before dropping game two 8-0. They then dropped both games of their Landmark Conference home opener against Elizabethtown College Sunday, 14-5 and 5-0. Sophomore Aly Smith(Mount Union, Pa./Mount Union) led all hitters with a .600 average, going 3-for-5 at the plate. She also picked up the win over MAC and finished the week tied for a team-best four strikeouts. Senior Rachel Smith (Martinsburg, Pa./Homeschooled) had the best week on the mound, earning a team-best 3.50 ERA, striking out four in four innings of work, and walking just one batter. Juniata has two doubleheaders coming up this week. They host St. Vincent on Thursday, March 27 and then head to Catholic University on Saturday, March 29.
Men's Tennis
In two matches on the road, the Juniata College men's tennis team finished the week 2-0 to improve to 7-0 on the year. The Eagles are on top of the Landmark Conference at 2-0 after Friday's 9-0 sweep of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. Juniata then traveled to Flushing, N.Y., where they faced Hunter College at the U.S. Tennis Association National Training Center and took down the Hawks 6-3. Sophomore Logan Moore (Chadds Ford, Pa./Unionville) was named Landmark Player of the Week earning back-to-back honors for the Eagles after freshman Dean Polisena (Adelaide, Australia/Saint Ignatius) garnered the award the week before.
Women's Tennis
The Juniata College women's tennis team opened its 2014 home season with a 9-0 sweep of Lycoming College. SophomoreJacklyn Renninger (Manheim, Pa./Manheim Central) garnered Landmark Conference Player of the Week honors for her performances during the preceding week and continued her strong play with a win at No. 3 doubles with partner Rachel Yurchisin (Cleveland, Ohio/Padua Franciscan).
Men's Outdoor Track & Field
Juniata competed well at its annual Invitation on Saturday. The Eagles raked in four first place finishes led by junior Tyler Mandley (Altoona, Pa./Altoona Area) who swept the hurdling events. Sophomore Matt Guetzlaff (Schnecksville, Pa./Parkland) placed first in the 1500m run with a personal best time. Fellow sophomore R.J. Bogdan (Buffalo, N.Y./Canisius High School) crossed the line first in the 800m run. The Eagles travel to Selinsgrove, Pa. next to compete in the Susquehanna Open.
Women's Outdoor Track & Field
The Juniata College women's outdoor track & field team started off the 2014 outdoor season with five first place finishes as they hosted the Juniata Invitational on Saturday. Senior Katrina Woods (Shirleysburg, Pa./Mount Union) paced the Eagles with two of those wins, one in record-breaking fashion. Woods broke her previous record in the 1,500m run in a first place time of 4:47.53. She also picked up a win in the 800m run. Junior Courtney Peterson (York, Pa./Central York) claimed victory in the 3,000m steeplechase. In the field, freshman Katelyn Fisher (Rochester, N.Y./Greece Athena) placed first in the high jump, while juniorChelsey Beaver (Shamokin Dam, Pa./Selinsgrove Area) came in first in the hammer throw. Juniata heads to the Susquehanna Open next.
Men's Volleyball
The Juniata College men's volleyball team retained its No. 1 ranking in the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) poll and went 2-0 against Continental Volleyball Conference (CVC) opponents this week. Juniata (20-3, 7-0 CVC) defeated Eastern Mennonite 3-1 Friday night and swept Marymount (Va.) 3-0 on Saturday night. Junior Mark Feiler (Mountville, Pa./Hempfield) led the team in kills and digs. Sophomores Matt Elias (Lansdale, Pa./North Penn) and Carlos Faccio (Guaynabo, P.R./San Ignacio) split time running the offense and combined for 75 assists. The Eagles finally return home after an eight-match road trip. They take on Thiel this Wednesday, March 26 at 7 p.m.
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