Alexander Serves Up Wins for the Barons

BETHANY, W.Va. – Matthew Alexander won both his singles and doubles matches in the Franciscan University of Steubenville Baron tennis match against the Bison of Bethany College Monday afternoon. The Barons fell 6-3 overall and now stand 0-3 in the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference.

Alexander defeated Ryan Rockisky 6-3, 6-4 making his win the only singles match victory for FUS. Bethany’s Evan Osland beat Joe Alvarez 6-4, 7-5 to give the home team victory for the day.

Franciscan dominated in double play. Nick Cundiff and Andrew Straub won the number one match up in a tiebreaker against Dustin Opalka and Jay Lionet 7-7 (7-2). In the battle for number two, Jason Straw and Levi Naylor faced off against Chris Cooper and Alexander. Cooper and Alexander walked away with a 8-2 win. The Bison salvaged their last doubles set when Rockisky and Osland beat Brad Mathisen and Clark Thompson 7-2.

In singles, Opalka and Cooper played in the number one match with Opalka winning 6-4, 4-6, 6-2. Straw handled Cundiff in the second match, 6-3, 7-5. Straub and Naylor battled it out in the third match. Naylor won the first set in a tiebreaker 6-6 (7-4). Straub came roaring back, taking the second game in straight sets 6-0, but fell short 6-4 in the final game.

Coach Curtis Allen was pleased, but saw room for improvement for his team: “We battled hard,” he said, “but just came up a little short. We lost a lot of close matches that we should have won.”

The Barons will look to improve as they face off against the Penn State Behrend Lions at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, March 24.