ALLENTOWN, Pa. – The Cedar Crest College tennis team lost to Eastern University in a 7-2 final on Wednesday afternoon in the home debut for the Falcons.

The Eagles swept doubles play to begin the match. Sophomore Sarah Mower (Swedesboro, N.J.) and sophomore Rhyan Metzger (Media, Pa.) defeated seniors Katherine Franzone (Mount Bethel, Pa./Pennsylvania Cyber Charter) and Brittany Schultz (Bethlehem, Pa./Liberty) in a tiebreak at first doubles, 8-7. Sophomore Katie Browning (Orefield, Pa./Northwestern Lehigh) and first-year Jamie Reed (York, Pa./Dover Area) were defeated by first-year Grace Schriever (Westcreek, N.J.) and senior Mercedes Lohmann (West Chester, Pa.) at No. 2 doubles, 8-3. First-year Kiley McHugh (Aston, Pa.) and sophomore Anisah Smith (Central Islip, N.Y.) doubled up first-years Camber Beverage (Taylor, Pa./Riverside) and Grace Huff (Pottsville, Pa./Pottsville Area) at third doubles, 8-4.

Eastern went onto take four of the six singles points to capture the match. Franzone got a point for Cedar Crest with a 6-3, 6-1 win over Mower at first singles. Metzger was victorious at the No. 2 spot over Schultz 6-2 and 6-4. Browning secured the second point for the Falcons after a 2-6, 6-2, 10-5 triumph over Schriever at third singles. Reed was edged by Lohmann in three sets (4-6, 6-3, 12-10) at the No. 4 slot. McHugh blanked first-year Celia Fisher (Lehighton, Pa./Lehighton Area) at No. 5 singles while Smith got by Beverage at sixth singles (6-3, 6-2).

Cedar Crest (0-2 overall) will return to the courts at home against Muhlenberg College on Friday, September 22 at 4:00 p.m. Eastern (1-1 overall) will travel to Neumann University for a non-league match on Saturday, September 23 at noon.

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