CRESSON, PA. -- The Mounties improved to 4-0 in conference play over the weekend with two wins over Pitt-Greensburg, adding a non-conference dual victory against Waynesburg along the way. 

Graduate student Cole Kazmierczyk (Johnstown, PA, Richland) led the charge, going 3-0 in singles at the top flight, while junior Tanner Beck (Lancaster, PA, Hempfield) offered a steadying presence at three doubles, matching Kazmiercyzk's singles efforts with a 3-0 weekend record at his flight with partners TJ Yablonski (Fredericksburg, VA, Stafford) and Tyler Gannon (Pittsburgh, PA, Central Catholic).

MATCH OF THE MEET:

Kazmierczyk captured the match of the meet on Saturday with a strong performance against Waynesburg's Ethan Lown, finishing a clinical first set without dropping a game. An adjustment by Lown saw an uptick in net approaches and on-the-rise backhands, forcing Kazmierczyk against the back wall as the two traded games. Kazmierczyk countered with aggressive cuts on service returns and firm cross court forehands, the increased pace opening up transition passes en route to a 6-4 second set victory. 

Freshman Zachary Johnson (Treasure Lake, Pa., DuBois Area) swarmed the court in his 6-2 6-0 victory over Pitt-Greensburg in the first of the Mounties' Sunday double-header, chipping and charging through a steady barrage of lobs and low pass attempts. Johnson's serve proved crucial, while his slice-first strategy was aided by the low bounce of the low-40 degree weather. The match of the meet performance was accompanied by a tight tiebreak doubles win, setting Johnson up for the eventual 5-1 weekend he would cement by the end of the day.  

The three doubles pairing of Beck and Gannon invariably captured match of meet in the afternoon, overcoming a slow start to give Mount Aloysius a 3-0 lead going in to singles against Pitt-Greensburg. Tricky sun positioning made service holds rare, with shared athleticism and hand-speed fully on display from start to end. Powerful overheads punished every short lob, with both teams opting for a poach-first strategy as Pitt-Greensburg rushed to a 3-0 lead. Improved movement brought the Mounties back by the next changeover, and the match settled into an even affair, with both teams exchanging volleys back and forth at breakneck pace. A loose service game from Gannon opened a window for the Bobcats at 7-5, but redemption came immediately as he made the most of Beck's service returns with two crushed overheads, finishing the energetic contest at 8-6. 

NEXT UP:

The Mounties meet Penn State Behrend in Erie, PA at 1:00pm for a double header on Saturday, April 1st.