ALTOONA, Pa. – The Penn State Altoona women's tennis team snapped its two-match skid on Sunday afternoon, when the Lions defeated nearby Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference rival Mount Aloysius College 6-3 at Gorilla House Gym.

Penn State Altoona (3-2, 2-1 AMCC) established a lead after doubles play, as the Lions earned wins in the No. 1 and No. 2 matches to get on top. In the No. 1 doubles match, the duo of Mikhaela Merca (Hummelstown, PA/Lower Dauphin)/Caitlin Blessel (Saint Marys, PA/Saint Marys) prevailed 8-5 for their team-leading fourth win together this season. In the No. 2 spot, the team of Isabella Rhoades (Tyrone, PA/Tyrone)/Rachel Stricek (Tyrone, PA/Tyrone) picked up their first win together this season with an 8-3 triumph.

In singles, the Lions won four-of-six to defeat Mount Aloysius (1-5, 0-3 AMCC) by three points in the match. Merca earned her third singles win of the season with a 6-0, 6-1 victory in the No. 1 match, and Blessel recorded her team-best fourth singles win in the No. 2 slot with a tiebreak win over her opponent, 6-2, 2-6, 10-5. Rhoades secured a 7-5, 6-0 win in the No. 4 singles match for her second victory of the year, and Lauren Stich (Ellwood City, PA/Lincoln) nabbed her third singles win with a 6-4, 6-4 triumph in the No. 5 match.

Penn State Altoona women's tennis returns to action tomorrow, Monday, September 18, on the road against Juniata College. That match is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m.