ALTOONA, Pa. – The Penn State Altoona women's tennis team recorded its third straight win on Thursday, when the Lions blanked Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference opponent La Roche University 9-0 at the Adler Tennis Courts.

Penn State Altoona (5-2, 3-1 AMCC) made quick work of La Roche (0-4, 0-2 AMCC) in doubles play, winning all three matches by scores of 8-0.

In the No. 1 match, the duo of Mikhaela Merca (Hummelstown, PA/Lower Dauphin)/Caitlin Blessel (Saint Marys, PA/Saint Marys) picked up their team-best sixth win of the season together, while the tandems of Rachel Stricek (Tyrone, PA/Tyrone)/Isabella Rhoades (Tyrone, PA/Tyrone) and Lauren Stich (Ellwood City, PA/Lincoln)/Julia Daley (Langhorne, PA/Neshaminy) posted their second wins in the No. 2 and No. 3 spots, respectively.

The Lions continued their dominance in singles play, surrendering just three games to La Roche in a combined 12 sets. Merca, Blessel, Stricek, Rhoades, and Stich each won their matches in the Nos. 1 through 5 spots by scores of 6-0, 6-0, and Daley prevailed 6-3, 6-0 in the No. 6 match for her first collegiate singles win.

Blessel's win was her team-high sixth singles win of the season, while Merca and Stich each recorded their fifth victories. Stricek's triumph was her fourth of the year, and Rhoades' win was her third.

Penn State Altoona women's tennis ventures back into non-conference play for its next match, when the Lions will travel to New Wilmington, Pa. to face Westminster College this Saturday, September 30 at 2 p.m.