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Juniata’s season ends with first loss

Indians fall to Quaker Valley in straight sets in first state team tennis appearance

Max Lauver

ALTOONA — Juniata High School’s outstanding tennis season came to an end Tuesday when the Indians dropped a 5-0 decision to Quaker Valley in the first round of the PIAA Class 2A championships at the Gorilla House Gym.

The win moved Quaker Valley (14-3) into the PIAA’s quarterfinals Friday at Hershey. Juniata closed its season with an 11-1 record.

“This was the first time for our high school to win districts,” Juniata coach Sherri Landis said. “So they were thrilled last week to win districts.

“This an extra bonus to be in a state match,” Landis offered. “We were hopeful going into it, but this team (Quaker Valley) obviously was the better team.”

Juniata was 9-0 during the regular season and won two matches to claim the District 6 Class 2A championship.

Zach Hemond

However, the Indians were no match for Quaker Valley, the WPIAL runner-up from suburban Pittsburgh.

The Quakers, second to Indiana, Pa., in the WPIAL, were led by the Sirianna freshmen twins. Mike Sirianna defeated Juniata’s Zach Hemond, a senior, 6-0, 6-2, at No. 1 singles. Will Sirianna blanked Juniata junior George Hazard, 6-0, 6-0, at No. 3.

Juniata freshman Max Lauver put up a good battle against Quaker senior Andres Hubsch before losing 6-3, 6-3, at No. 2.

Quaker Valley’s doubles teams also were victorious. Juniors Zach Albert and John Watters. the WPIAL champions, beat Juniata seniors Colin Mianulli and Jessen Abram, 6-2, 6-2, while Potter Oliver, a senior, and Thomas Pangburn, a sophomore, were 6-1, 6-1 winners over Juniata senior Lawson Fitzgerald and freshman Gavin Kint.

“I’m thrilled,” Quaker Valley coach Christi Hays said following the shutout win.

George Hazard

“I inherited these freshmen,” Hays said of the Sirianna twins. “We had a good team already, barely missing going to states last year, so the addition of the freshmen made us deeper and we won a lot of our matches with our depth.”

Juniata’s doubles team of Hemond and Lauver won the District 6 title and will compete in the state doubles tournament Friday, May 24, ironically against Quaker Valley’s Albert and Watters. That match will be in Hershey.

“We did have a very good year,” Landis added. “I couldn’t be more proud of my team. We were just outmatched today.”

Quaker Valley 5, Juniata 0

Singles

1, Mike Sirianna, QV, def. Zach Hemond, 6-0, 6-2

2, Andres Hubsch, QV, def. Max Lauver, 6-3, 6-3

3, Will Sirianna, QV, def. George Hazard, 6-0, 6-0.

Doubles

1, Zach Albert-JohnWatters, QV, def. Colin Mianulli-Jessen Abram, 6-2, 6-2

2, Potter Oliver-Thomas Pangburn, QV, def. Lawson Fitzgerald-Gavin Kint, 6-1, 6-1.

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