WILKES-BARRE, PA (September 21, 2019) -- The King's College women's tennis team started dual match action for the 2019-20 season Saturday, knocking off Juniata College 6-3 in play from Kirby Park. 

The Monarchs took a 2-1 lead into singles after earning wins at No. 1 and No. 3 doubles, but trailed early as Juniata opened the team scoring with an 8-2 win at the No. 2 spot. The Monarchs tied the match at 1 thanks to an emphatic 8-3 victory by Emily Fernandez and Alexis Zalutko at No. 1 doubles. The final pairs bout was the most competitive of the three, as newcomers Lauren Lamarca and Addy Atkins outlasted Emily Sarro and Emma Kramer of Juniata 8-6. 

In singles play, Fernandez made quick work of Emily Dowler at No. 1, as she won all 12 games en route to a 6-0, 6-0 victory and a 3-1 King's advantage. Rodriguez would push the Monarchs to within a win of the team victory as she made the score 4-1 with a 6-3, 6-2 straight set victory at the No. 2 position. Juniata would pull closer with a win at No. 3 to make it 4-2, but Atkins clinched the victory for the Monarchs with a gutty three-set win, earning the victory with a 6-2, 3-6, 10-6 scoreline. 

At No. 5 singles, Lamarca and Kramer played the most exciting match of the day, as Kramer started with a 6-4 win in the first set. Not deterred, Lamarca responded with a 6-0 win in the second set to force a super tiebreaker. In the final set of action, Lamarca earned the win with a 13-11 victory in the breaker to pick up her second win of the day. Sophomore Mikayla Reynolds battled hard at No. 4 singles, dropping a heartbreaker in three sets, 6-7 (2), 6-3, 10-7. 

King's is off until the Middle Atlantic Conference Individual Championships this weekend, as Fernandez looks to repeat as MAC Individual champ after her crown in 2018.