Reading, Pa. (Oct. 3, 2009) - Messiah College (5-4, 2-1) won three of the four singles matches that went three sets Saturday afternoon to squeeze past Alvernia University (7-2, 0-2) by a narrow 5-4 margin in Commonwealth Conference women's tennis action at Governor Mifflin Courts.

The Crusaders took two of three doubles matches winning 8-4 at No. 1 and 8-2 at No. 2.  The first and sixth singles matches were the only ones decided in straight sets as Jenny McKee (York, Pa./York Catholic) won 6-3, 6-2 at the top and Kristie Chen subbed into the Falcon lineup for a 6-3, 6-3 win at No. 6.

Alvernia junior Lil Snyder (Lancaster, Pa./Lampeter Strasburg) split the first two sets at No. 3 before a 7-5 win in the deciding set.  Messiah took 6-1 leads at both No. 4 and No. 5, but Alvernia freshmen Kayla Morgan (Mohrsville, Pa./Hamburg) and Karoline Miller (Reading, Pa./Holy Name) respectively, both came back to win the second set only to see both Messiah players come back and win the third set.

Meanwhile Messiah's Stacey Clark was completing a comeback at No. 2 singles coming back after dropping the first set to Alvernia senior Lauren Ertel (Wyomissing, Pa./Wyomissing).

After winning the first seven matches of the season the Crusaders have now dropped two in a row and look to return to form on Monday at King's.

Messiah 5, Alvernia 4
Oct 03, 2009 at Reading, Pa.

Singles competition
1. Jenny McKee (ALVERNIA) def. Christie McGinley (MESSW) 6-3, 6-2
2. Stacey Clark (MESSW) def. Lauren Ertel (ALVERNIA) 4-6, 6-4, 6-0
3. Lillian Snyder (ALVERNIA) def. Katie Marstaller (MESSW) 6-4, 3-6, 7-5
4. Annie Gotchel (MESSW) def. Kayla Morgan (ALVERNIA) 6-1, 4-6, 6-3
5. Steph Knepper (MESSW) def. Karoline Miller (ALVERNIA) 6-1, 2-6, 6-2
6. Kristen Chen (MESSW) def. Laura Ehnes (ALVERNIA) 6-3, 6-3

Doubles competition
1. Jenny McKee/Kayla Morgan (ALVERNIA) def. Stacey Clark/Christie McGinley (MESSW) 8-4
2. Lauren Ertel/Lillian Snyder (ALVERNIA) def. Annie Gotchel/Sarah Throw (MESSW) 8-2
3. Steph Knepper/Katie Marstaller (MESSW) def. Laura Ehnes/Brittany Veith (ALVERNIA) 8-4

Match Notes
Messiah College 5-4, 2-1
Alvernia University 7-2, 2-2
Commonwealth Conference match.
T-4:00 A-35