ERIE, Pa. - After starting the 2009 season at 3-0, the Penn State Altoona men's tennis team suffered a 7-2 defeat at the hands of Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference rival Penn State Behrend Sunday afternoon in Erie. 

The two Altoona victories came from Kyle Yerty (Roaring Spring, PA/Central) and Justin Hess (Saxton, PA/Central Mountain), who captured the #4 and #6 singles matches, respectively.  Yerty won his match in straight sets, while Hess outlasted Behrend's Peter Bissert in three sets 3-6, 6-3, 7-6.

In the doubles portion, the closest Altoona came was an 8-6 defeat from the combination of Yerty and Scott Pickrell (Altoona, PA/Altoona). 

The Lions drop to 3-1 overall, 2-1 AMCC, and Altoona will return to the courts on Wednesday, April 1, when the squad will travel to Frostburg State for a 3:00 PM match with the Bobcats.