Yessenaliyeva Shines in Singles as Eagles Fall in Season Opener at Allegheny
Meadville, PA - Juniata women's tennis opened its 2025–26 season on the road Friday afternoon, falling 6-1 to a strong Allegheny squad at the Robertson Tennis Center.
The highlight of the day came from Medina Yessenaliyeva, who delivered a dominant performance at No. 1 singles. Yessenaliyeva earned Juniata's lone point of the match with a straight-sets victory over Emiliia Grydnieva, 6-3, 6-0.
In doubles action, the Eagles were competitive at the top and bottom of the lineup. Yessenaliyeva teamed up with Nina Meadows at No. 1 doubles and battled before ultimately falling 6-4, while Laura Rojas and Emma Steinhoff pushed their match at No. 3 doubles to the same scoreline.
Despite their efforts, Allegheny secured the doubles point and carried the momentum into singles play. Meadows and Katie Wagoner fought through tough matchups at the No. 2 and No. 3 singles positions, while Skylar Grabarski, Rojas, and Steinhoff competed hard but fell in straight sets at the lower spots.
The match marked the first competition of the season for Juniata, which now sits at 0-1 overall. The Eagles will look to build on Yessenaliyeva's strong performance as they continue their fall schedule.
