ST. DAVID'S, Pa. – The Cedar Crest College tennis team suffered an 8-1 defeat to non-conference opponent Eastern University on Tuesday afternoon.

The Eagles began the match with a 3-0 sweep of doubles action. The first doubles team of sophomore Trinity Gruber (Landisville, Pa.) and junior GraceHope Stevens (Charlestown, Md.) doubled up the Falcons' junior duo of Lily Spagnola (Barnegat, N.J./Barnegat) and Katherine Franzone (Mount Bethel, Pa./Pennsylvania Cyber Charter). First-years Sarah Mower (Swedesboro, N.J.) and Rhyan Metzger (Media, Pa.) took down first-year Katie Browning (Orefield, Pa./Northwestern Lehigh) and senior Taylor Wolf (Townsend, Del./Middletown) by an 8-1 score. Eastern completed the sweep when first-year Anisah Smith (Central Islip, N.Y.) and senior Morgan Robinette (Lewistown, Pa.) topped sophomore Corinne O'Connor (Bay Shore, N.Y./Bay Shore) and senior Brittany Schultz (Bethlehem, Pa./Liberty) at third doubles, 8-3.

The Eagles then took five of the six singles matches. Stevens beat Franzone at the No. 1 spot by identical 6-1, 6-1 scores. Gruber defeated Spagnola 6-1 and 6-3 at the No. 2 spot. Mower defeated Wolf by scores of 6-2, 7-5 at third singles. Metzger was victorious at No. 4, taking down Schultz, 6-2 and 6-1. Junior Mercedes Lohmann (West Chester, Pa.) won at the fifth spot, defeating Browning 6-2 and 6-4.

The lone point for the Falcons came at the No. 6 singles spot. O'Connor earned the straight-set victory over graduate student Brittany Pancoast (Malvern, Pa.), 7-6 and 6-2 for the 8-1 final.

Cedar Crest (0-3 overall) continues its busy week on Thursday, March 30 in a non-league match at Lycoming. First serve is slated for 4:00 p.m. Eastern (2-0 overall) begins a three-match road trip on Thursday at Immaculata University. The match is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.

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