(Posted April 17, 2006)

HUNTINGDON, Pa. ? The Juniata College men?s tennis team went toe-to-toe with Division II Slippery Rock University in Huntingdon Monday afternoon, but in the end the Eagles were unable to pull out the win as they dropped the decision by a 5-2 score in the Eagles? regular-season finale. Juniata closes the regular season with a record of 13-4 while Slippery Rock improved to 7-10 with the win.

Juniata got the match off on the right foot by claiming two of the three doubles matches to secure the doubles point. The Eagles were then able to extend two of the singles matches to a third set, but could not come away with the victories as Slippery Rock earned five of the six wins in singles.

The Eagles earned the point in doubles by winning at the first and third doubles positions. Neil Eicher (Altoona/Altoona) and Brandon Long (Lebanon/Lebanon) rolled to an 8-0 win at the first position, while Jonathan Cohen (Highland Regional/Hollywood, Fla.) and Jack Walfish (Spring-Ford/Royersford) claimed an 8-6 victory at second doubles.

Juniata then looked like it might be able to pull off the win as a win from Jonathan Skoner (Central Catholic/Pittsburgh) by a 6-3, 6-2 score at second singles had the score at 3-2 in favor of the visitors. But while Brian Sykes (Gateway Regional/Woodburry Heights, N.J.) and Ryan Navarro (Bishop Guilfoyle/Altoona) were able to extend their matches to a third set, neither was able to come away with the win. Sykes fell by a 6-7, 6-1, 6-3 at third singles while Navarro dropped a 6-7, 7-5, 6-1 decision at fifth singles. Though his match did not go three sets, Cohen also forced a tie-breaker in his match before falling 7-6, 6-4 at fourth singles.

Though the regular season is complete, Juniata will continue play in the Commonwealth Conference postseason. Juniata is the second seed for the four-team tournament and will host third-seed Albright College Wednesday in a semifinal at 3 pm.

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