ALTOONA, Pa. – The Penn State Altoona women's tennis team closed out its fall regular season with an 8-1 victory at home against non-conference opponent Waynesburg University on Wednesday evening at the Adler Tennis Courts.

The match was the makeup of a contest between the two teams that was originally scheduled for September 7 but was postponed due to inclement weather. The rescheduled date gave Penn State Altoona (4-7) one more opportunity to stay sharp before this weekend's conference postseason tournament begins, and the Lions did not disappoint, defeating their non-conference foe by seven points.

Penn State Altoona grabbed a 2-1 lead over Waynesburg (1-9) by the end of doubles play. In No. 1 doubles, the duo of Mikhaela Merca (Hummelstown, PA/Lower Dauphin)/Rachel Stricek (Tyrone, PA/Tyrone) secured their fifth win of the season together by besting their opponents 8-1. Stephanie Swain (Yadkin County, NC/Forbush)/Isabella Rhoades (Tyrone, PA/Tyrone) were also victorious, earning their team-best seventh doubles win together with an 8-3 triumph in the No. 3 spot.

Next, the Lions swept singles play to seal a convincing win over the Yellow Jackets. Merca nabbed her team-high seventh singles win of the season in the No. 1 match, blanking her opponent 6-0, 6-0. Stricek provided what was the match-clinching point with a victory in the No. 2 singles match, winning 6-1, 6-2 for her fifth singles win of the season. Lydia Um (Hollidaysburg, PA/Hollidaysburg) claimed a 6-1, 6-0 victory in the No. 3 spot for her second singles win of the season, and Swain defeated her opponent 6-1, 6-3 in the No. 4 match for her fourth singles win. In the No. 5 match, Rhoades prevailed 6-2, 6-2 for her fifth victory of the season, and Lauren Stich (Ellwood City, PA/Lincoln) earned her first collegiate singles win with a 6-1, 6-2 victory in the No. 6 match.

Now, the Penn State Altoona women's tennis team will prepare for the opening round of the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference Tournament. The Lions, who have the number three seed out of four in the tournament, will face number two seed Penn State Behrend in an AMCC semifinal match this Saturday, October 15 at approximately 7:00 p.m., or immediately following the conclusion of the day's first match. The match will be played at Oxford Athletic Club in Wexford, Pa.

Should the Lions win Saturday, they would advance to the AMCC championship match on Sunday.