Franciscan 8, Geneva 1

Steubenville, Ohio - 

Doubles    
 #1 Gary Pierre / Travis Mistry vs Guillembet / Heidengren
    The top pairs were off to a quick start gaining a 4-1 lead. With the match score at 4-3, it was Travis Mistry's turn to serve. Mistry fired a hard, low serve to the inside corner that on back-to-back occasions Geneva could not return. These two game points extended their lead to 6-3, and the pair had match point in sight. The top pair had some hiccups while trying to end their match. Mistry went for the drop shot a couple times missing the back line long. Ultimately it was just a momentary lapse, and Pierre/Mistry took the next two points winning the match 8-4.

#2 Josh Robbins / Aidan Howard vs Luptak / Shaver
    The #2 pair had noticeably higher energy in their play today. The duo took an early lead, but continued to play aggressive. At 3-0, both Robbins and Howard charged the net. At 3-1, Howard dropped the ball over the front player into the corner, too far for Geneva's back line player to get a good shot at it. After that the pair dropped a couple easy point with double serve faults and a miss shot going for the kill. At 3-2, running backwards Robbin got a lob shot that landed just inside the back left corner. Geneva returned and Howard was there to try and kill it short. Howard hit the top of the net and the ball double bounced on the net before falling back onto the Barons side of play. A great play from both Robbins and Howard that unfortunately went to Geneva. With the win in sight, Robbins turned the heat up returning shots with increasing power challenging Geneva players to just manage a return. At one point Robbins charged the net slamming the ball and eliminating and chance of a return. The ball bounced over the fence surrounding the courts and stuck into the fence back of the bleachers. The Geneva duo showed impressive mental fortitude. After going down 5-2, fought their way back to 7-7 and force a tie break. In the tiebreak, Geneva used the momentum from the comeback and won 8-3 preventing the Barons sweep of doubles.

#3 Billy Presume / Leo Morella vs Donaldson / Jooke
    Leo Morella and Billy Presume continue their success. The pair has only lost once this year, and today got off to a 6-0 lead. With match point on the line, Morella struggled to put Geneva away with the serve, double faulting twice. The Geneva #3 pair held on and grabbed back-to-back points trying to get back in the game. Billy Presume took the serve and sent a heater down the middle then went for the drop shot which got behind the back line layer, but stayed inbounds. The dynamic duo finished off their opponents 8-2.
   
    Going into Singles play the Barons were winning 2-1

Singles
    Aidan Howard and Aidan Palladino hitting in the #5 and #6 spots quickly finished their matches. Each winning in two sets and Palladino only relinquishing 4 games the entire match. Travis Mistry finished next. Mistry controlled the ball well. On multiple occasion Mistry mixed up soft and hard shots, pulling his opponent to one side of the court, then firing a low heater to the opposite corner. It was great play that even his opponent couldn't help but congratulate him with "great shot". With Mistry's match win the Barons secured the 5th point and clinched the team victory. The last three singles matches were all tightly contested all involving tie breakers. Billy Presume lost the first set 3-6, then flipped the script to win the second set 6-2. In the third tie break set, Presume was able to keep his opponent moving and stay in control enough to edge out a 10-7 third set victory. Gary Pierre's match went very similar to Presume's. Pierre lost his first set, but regained his focus and took the second set 6-3, then the third set 10-3. Josh Robbins finished last with a battle versus Geneva's Luptak. Robbin's faced Luptak in doubles play where Luptak helped muster a comeback win. A close first set ended in Robbin's favor 6-4. Late in the second set, Luptak had a small lead and Robbins managed to win the last couple games and force a second set tie break. The tie break was just as close as the rest of the match. Points were back and forth until the score was 4-4. Robbins took a one point lead from a missed shot from Luptak, then had two kills for the next two points winning the tie break, the second set, and the match.

Who's Next? 
The Barons will get right back into action on the road at Waynesburg tomorrow at 3:30 pm. Franciscan is 1-0 all-time against Waynesburg with this being their second conference matchup all-time. The Yellow Jackets are 5-4 this year with a 1-2 PAC record coming into this Wednesday matchup.

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