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South claims District 4 team tournament title

BRETT R. CROSSLEY/Sun-Gazette Correspondent South Williamsport's girls tennis team pose with their District 4 team championship plaque on Friday. Pictured are, standing from left, Kent Young, Lily Summerson, Olivia Dorner, Alayna McGovern, Jen Bowman, Teresa Summerson, and Leslee Rundio. In the front around the plaque are, from left, Lauren Peck, Ella Livorno, and Zoe Jackson.

MUNCY — Matches began to closeout and the one that was going to determine a District 4 team girls tennis champion continued as a crowd started to build at the fence surrounding the courts.

South’s No. 2 doubles team of Alayna McGovern and Jen Bowman might not typically play in front of the largest crowd at the match, but as the last of the singles contests came to a close, it was their moment in front of the fans. The duo won their first set, gave up a 7-6 heartbreaker to drop the second and finally overcame a tie-breaker to claim the final set for South Williamsport.

The victory gave South Williamsport the team championship with a 3-2 win over Montoursville. They will advance to Tuesday’s PIAA state championships to take on Hamburg at the West Branch Tennis Club at 2 p.m.

Montoursville will travel to Hershey to take on District 3 champion Wyomissing.

The drama all started with two quick matches when Olivia Dorner, the District 4 individual champion, and South Williamsport’s No. 3 singles player Lauren Peck both won their matches 6-0, 6-0.

“Pretty much everything was working,” Dorner said. “I was only missing a few shots. She played well it was a good match.”

Dorner took on Maddy Reeves, Montoursville’s No. 1 single player. Dorner overwhelmed her with a strong first serve. Dorner also got to nearly every shot on the court.

It was clear Dorner was in a zone during the first set when she beat Reeves with her serve to pick up a few aces. The shots Reeves was able to return, were quickly returned as Dorner worked to keep her lead intact.

“I had a good warmup and I was making a lot of my serves,” Dorner said. “I felt good.”

Peck was just as good in her No. 3 singles match as she moved Alissa Aldinger around the court with her shots. She also had a strong serve and cruised through her match to give South Williamsport a quick 2-0 lead over Montoursville.

“I was just trying to stay calm in my match and focused throughout it,” Peck said. “Our goal all year was to work hard and get here undefeated. It means a lot. We have to work really hard throughout the offseason to get to this point.”

Once Peck was finished with her match she quickly joined her other teammates as they cheered on both doubles teams and Lily Summerson as they attempted to closeout the match.

“It’s really fun to be a part of the team and support our other players,” Peck said. “We wouldn’t be here without each other and it’s really exciting.”

Summerson fell in her match despite a strong comeback attempt. Lydia Barbour fought off the attempt and claimed Montoursville’s first match. The Warriors then took the first doubles match as Kaitly Dawes and Jill Fitzwater defeated Zoe Jackson and Ella Livorno.

“The first set I was really hitting my balls well and placing my shots well,” Barbour said. “The second set I started to make some mistakes, but I was able to comeback and win the match.”

McGovern and Bowman fought through a cold breeze and long volleys as they topped Tori Kleenex and Alex McKenna to claim the District 4 Team Championship.

South Williamsport 3, Montoursville 2

SINGLES

1. Olivia Dorner (SW) def. Maddy Reeves, 6-0 6-0; 2. Lydia Barbour (M) def. Lily Summerson, 6-1 7-5; 3. Lauren Peck (SW) def. Alissa Aldinger, 6-0 6-0.

DOUBLES

1. Kaitly Dawes/Jill Fitzwater (M) def. Zoe Jackson/Ella Livorno (SW), 6-0 6-0; 2. Alayna McGovern/Jen Bowman (SW) def. Tori Kleese/Alex McKenna, 6-3 6-7 7-6 (7-5).

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