STEUBENVILLE, Ohio – The West Liberty University men's tennis team edged Franciscan University, 4-3, Friday afternoon at Belleview Park, using a strong singles performance to rally for the road victory.

Franciscan claimed the doubles point to take an early 1-0 lead. The Hilltoppers' top pair of Pablo Zubieta and Ethan Shepard fell 6-3 at No. 1, while Ignacio Giurfa and Stanley Zgurski dropped a 6-4 decision at No. 2. West Liberty picked up a key win at No. 3 doubles, where Christopher Burns and Barney Cowan secured a 6-2 victory.

Trailing entering singles play, the Hilltoppers responded by winning four of six matches to clinch the team win.

Ethan Shepard evened the match with a 6-3, 6-1 win at No. 3 singles, and Stanley Zgurski followed with a 6-4, 7-5 victory at No. 4. Barney Cowan delivered a dominant 6-1, 6-0 result at No. 5, while Christopher Burns added another point with a 6-3, 6-2 win at No. 6.

Ignacio Giurfa battled in one of the most competitive matches of the day at No. 2 singles, pushing to a third set before falling in a tightly contested finish.

Franciscan also picked up a win at the top spot, where Aaron Heinlein defeated Zubieta in straight sets.




West Liberty University blends a small-town environment with a comprehensive college experience, fostering students' aspirations through hands-on learning, personalized support, and unique academic programs at both undergraduate and graduate levels. Learn more at westliberty.edu.