WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. – The Penn State Altoona women's tennis team won its second straight match by prevailing 6-3 over non-conference opponent Lycoming College on Thursday evening at Brandon Park.

The Lions (4-2) took two out of three in doubles play to start the match with a one-point lead. In the No. 1 doubles spot, the duo of Mikhaela Merca (Hummelstown, PA/Lower Dauphin)/Caitlin Blessel (Saint Marys, PA/Saint Marys) won 8-2 for their team-leading fifth doubles win together. In the No. 3 doubles match, the tandem of Lauren Stich (Ellwood City, PA/Lincoln)/Julia Daley (Langhorne, PA/Neshaminy) pulled out a win in tiebreak, earning an 8-7 (8-6) triumph over their opponents for their first win together this season.

Penn State Altoona proceeded to win four out of six over Lycoming (0-4) during the singles portion of the match, earning a three-point match win over the Warriors. Merca recorded her fourth win of the season with a 6-2, 6-1 decision over her opponent in the No. 1 match, and Blessel picked up her team-best fifth singles victory with a 6-4, 6-2 win in the No. 2 slot. Rachel Stricek (Tyrone, PA/Tyrone) got her third singles win of the year in the No. 3 match, coming out on top by a score of 7-6 (7-4), 6-0. Stich nabbed her fourth singles win with a 6-1, 6-4 victory in the No. 5 match.

Penn State Altoona women's tennis returns home for its next match, when the Lions will venture back into Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference play against Pitt-Greensburg this Sunday, September 24 at 1 p.m. The match is scheduled to be played outdoors at the Adler Tennis Courts, weather permitting.