ALTOONA, Pa. – The Penn State Altoona men's tennis team resumed its 2023-24 schedule on Sunday afternoon at the Gorilla House Gym, facing non-conference opponent Saint Vincent College in the Lions' first match of the spring semester.

St. Vincent (5-0) escaped with the victory, pulling out several close wins to deal Penn State Altoona (0-3) a 6-3 loss.

The Lions picked up a point in doubles play to start the match, as the duo of Casey Hess (Annville, PA/Annville-Cleona)/Andrew Chronister (York, PA/Dallastown) prevailed 8-5 over their opponents in the No. 1 spot to improve to 3-0 together in doubles matches this season. But St. Vincent pulled out wins of 8-5 and 8-7 (8-6) in the No.2 and No. 3 matches to establish a 2-1 lead heading into singles.

Hess earned his second singles victory of the season in the No. 1 match, winning 7-5, 1-0 (retired) in an injury-shortened match. Chronister provided another win for the Lions in the No. 2 slot, defeating his opponent 6-0, 4-6, 10-6 to move to 3-0 in singles matches this season.

However, St. Vincent maintained a lead over Penn State Altoona the rest of the way by winning the remaining four singles matches.

Next up, the Penn State Altoona men's tennis team will play its first road match of the season, as well as its first Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference match, when the Lions will travel to face league opponent Pitt-Greensburg on Sunday, March 17 at 12 p.m.