The Penn State Altoona men's tennis team prepares to embark on the bulk of its 2024-25 schedule, as the Lions will compete in their main season of competition this spring semester.

Penn State Altoona had a strong year last season, going 11-5 overall, including 5-1 in the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference. The Lions reached the AMCC championship match, where they suffered a tight, one-point loss. With a strong group of experienced returners this season, the team is hopeful it can achieve a title win this spring.

"Our main goal is to win the AMCC tournament," said seventh-year Penn State Altoona head coach Megan Stern, who was voted the conference's Coach of the Year last spring. "By improving individually, growing as a team, both with skills and through team bonding, I believe we can achieve our goal."

Penn State Altoona's 13-player roster is highlighted by 10 returners: senior Casey Hess (Annville, PA/Annville-Cleona), juniors Nick Beard (Manns Choice, PA/Bedford), Luis Escobar (Mount Sinai, NY/Mount Sinai), Vincent Escobar (Mount Sinai, NY/Mount Sinai), and Emmett Hibbs (Richfield, PA/East Juniata), and sophomores Kadyn Carey (Altoona, PA/Altoona), Andrew Chronister (York, PA/Dallastown), Wilhelm Grot (Tyrone, PA/Tyrone), and Jackson Newell (Leechburg, PA/Kiski Area). Senior Parth Raval (Mumbai, India/Thakur Polytechnic) graduated in December after competing in the fall portion of the team's schedule.

Out of those returners, Hess, Beard, Hibbs, Carey, Chronister, Grot, and Newell were all voted to the AMCC all-conference team at various singles and doubles positions. Voted to the first team of the All-AMCC squad in singles last season were Hess (10-4 at No. 1), Chronister (14-1 at No. 2), Beard (12-3 at No. 3), and Carey (6-3 at No. 4), with Hibbs (6-2 at No. 5) and Newell (5-4 at No. 6) being second-team selections. Beard and Carey (10-4 at No. 2) and Grot and Hibbs (7-5 at No. 3) were first-team doubles picks, while Hess and Chronister (13-2 at No. 1) made the second team.

Chronister was also the conference's 2023-24 Newcomer of the Year and co-Player of the Year.

"We are relying heavily on our lone senior and captain, Casey Hess, to provide our younger players guidance and support, both on and off the court. Additionally, juniors Emmett Hibbs and Nick Beard bring veteran experience to our team as well," said Stern. "We have some very talented sophomore returners in Andrew Chronister, Jackson Newell, Kadyn Carey, and Will Grot. I'm excited to see how the team as a whole will perform this year with our depth and talent. Many of these players have put extra hours in on their own, and it has shown in practice."

In addition to the returners, Penn State Altoona welcomes three first-year players to its team: freshmen Jude Irwin (Hollidaysburg, PA/Hollidaysburg), Gabriel Lopez (Wilmette, IL/New Trier Township), and Jason Sanders (Berkeley Heights, NJ/Governor Livingston).

"Gabe Lopez is a crucial addition for our team," said Stern. "He brings a lot of doubles experience to the team, as well as adds more depth in singles. His serve and net play will be difficult for opponents to handle."

Penn State Altoona enters its spring semester with four matches already under its belt. The Lions went 3-1 in October, including victories over non-conference opponents Thiel College and Geneva College and AMCC foe Mount Aloysius. Stern hopes her team can carry that success into the spring.

"We are taking that momentum and using it as motivation to continue to get better as a team, and in turn continue to win matches," she said.

Penn State Altoona launches its spring 2025 schedule this Sunday, February 23, on the road against Saint Vincent College.