HUNTINGDON, Pa.- The Juniata men's tennis team opened the 21-22 season with a tight 5-4 loss to visiting Alvernia, Sunday afternoon at the Raffensperger Tennis Courts.
William Michelson (Old Mystic, Conn. / Stonington) and Seth Strawser (Richfield, Pa. / East Juniata HS)were the only JC pairing that won their doubles match (8-4), so the Eagles were on the back foot as singles play began.
The teams split the first four singles matchups as Ilia Buralkin (Moscow, Russia /) (6-3, 6-3) and Nate Whelan (Point Pleasant Beach, Nj / Point Pleasant Beach High School) (6-3, 6-1) emerged victorious for Juniata, but by dropping the other two, the Eagles trailed 4-3, as Robert Singer (Olney, Md. / Sherwood HS)and William Michelson (Old Mystic, Conn. / Stonington) were the final two going.
Michelson narrowly lost, (6-3, 6-1, 6-4,) which gave the Golden Wolves the win, while Singer managed to come back and win (2-6, 78-66, 6-2) to make it 5-4.
Juniata returns to action at home this Wednesday against Lycoming at 3:30.
