Spartans Battle Past Lions 5-2
ALTOONA, Pa. – The Penn State Altoona men's tennis team took its first loss of the 2025-26 season on Tuesday evening, when non-conference opponent York College (Pa.) defeated the Lions 5-2 at the Adler Tennis Courts.
York (1-1) got on the board first by winning two out of three in doubles, and the Spartans defended their lead by taking four of six in singles play to post a three-point match victory over Penn State Altoona (2-1).
The Lions picked up a win in the No. 1 doubles match, where Nick Beard (Manns Choice, PA/Bedford)/Gabriel Lopez (Wilmette, IL/New Trier Township) teamed up for their second win of the season together with a 7-5 decision over their opponents. But York prevailed in the No. 2 and No. 3 spots to take a 1-0 lead into singles.
The visitors grew their lead during the singles portion of the match, recording wins at No. 2, No. 4, No. 5, and No. 6 to deal Penn State Altoona a three-point loss. The Lions salvaged points in the No. 1 and No. 3 spots, as Beard and Jackson Newell (Leechburg, PA/Kiski Area) each improved to 3-0 this season. Beard defeated his opponent 6-2, 6-3 in No. 1 singles, while Newell nabbed a 6-4, 7-5 triumph at No. 3.
Penn State Altoona men's tennis will have one more match in the fall semester, as the Lions on Tuesday added a road date at non-conference opponent Juniata College for Friday, September 26 at 4 p.m. After that, the team will pause for the winter before returning to action with the bulk of its schedule in the spring semester.
