Photo: Penn State Altoona sophomore Annie Ruggles had wins in No. 2 doubles and No. 4 singles on Saturday to help her team win in the AMCC semifinals.
Photo: Penn State Altoona sophomore Annie Ruggles had wins in No. 2 doubles and No. 4 singles on Saturday to help her team win in the AMCC semifinals.

Women's Tennis Defeats Behrend 5-2, Earns Berth to AMCC Title Match

ERIE, Pa. - #2 Penn State Altoona women's tennis posted a 5-2 victory over #3 Penn State Behrend in Saturday evening's Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference semifinal match at Westwood Racquet Club.

With the win, Penn State Altoona (8-5) advances to the AMCC Championship and will face #1 seed Franciscan University tomorrow, Sunday, October 22 at 12:30 p.m. at Westwood. That will mark the Lady Lions' first appearance in the conference title match since the league switched its postseason tournament to a head-to-head format beginning with the 2012 season.

Penn State Altoona jumped out to a 2-1 lead after doubles play on Saturday. In No. 2 doubles, the duo of Brayley Lewis (Roaring Spring, PA/Bishop Guilfoyle)/Annie Ruggles (Hollidaysburg, PA/Hollidaysburg) prevailed 8-4. In the No. 3 doubles slot, Victoria Acker (Cresson, PA/Penn Cambria)/Patricia Whelan (Newburgh, NY/John S. Burke Catholic) won 8-5.

The Lady Lions proceeded to win three singles matches to clinch the win over Behrend (7-6). Ruggles cruised to a 6-0, 6-1 win in No. 4 singles, Whelan earned a 6-0, 7-5 victory in No. 5 singles, and Acker triumphed 6-1, 6-3 in the No. 6 flight.

Next up, Penn State Altoona women's tennis will look for its third-ever AMCC title. The program's previous conference championship wins came in 2001 and 2002.