Ultimately, the Lancers’ firewall in the three singles matches held up, as Loyalsock topped Central Columbia to advance to the semifinals against Bucktail next Tuesday, 3-1.

“They’re a good group,” Loyalsock coach Kirk Bower said. “The key is they play a lot together, and that makes them better players. I knew today would be a tough match. Central is always ready for districts. I’ve known (Central Columbia coach) Lee Ercolani forever, so we knew we were going to get a lot of moon balls. All week we prepared for that.”

The preparation paid off. The Lancers seemed to win more of the longer points than Central Columbia, staying a bit more patient than the Blue Jays. That was especially evident at No. 2 singles which saw Gia Biachi outlast Sydney Barry, 6-2, 6-2 for the third and final point for Loyalsock.

“We always make sure the lights are ready to come on. She’s the kind of player who’s willing to stay here until they go off. Her strongest suit is her mental toughness. She’s going to hit every ball she can, and that can be very frustrating for an opponent,” Bower said. “That’s her style. The biggest thing with Gia is that she doesn’t dwell on a shot she might have missed. It’s water under the bridge to her. She just focuses on the next point, and that makes her a tough player to beat.”

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Caroline Crawford competes at No. 1, singles for Loyalsock during a quarterfinal match with Central Columbia's Cassandra Marte at Bruce Henry Park on Thursday.

Caroline Crawford played an aggressive brand of tennis at 1st singles to overpower Central’s Cassandra Marte, overcoming early serving woes to find a groove.

“Caroline has a game where, typically, if she hits one good serve, it kind of picks her up a little bit because sometimes she can be a little hard on herself. I think she had a couple of nervy service games there, that first set, I think both players showed a little bit of nerves since they were breaking each other on their serves,” Bower said. “Caroline has a strong serve, so when she turned around and got that, I believe, seventh game, I think that kind of put her into the gear she needed to be in. Then, going into that second set, I just said, ‘keep the pressure on.’ And, she really picked it up that second set.”

Vivian Reem got things started for the Lancers, jumping out to a quick 6-0 first-set win en route to a 6-0, 6-2 win. Reem controlled points from the baseline with a consistent and potent topspin forehand.

“I call her our little locomotive, because she is very consistent, and she plays her game. She doesn’t really worry about what style the other person has. She plays her game and just sticks to it. I told her going into the second set to just pretend she was hitting against the ball machine, and she’s good at that,” Bower said.

Loyalsock 3,

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Gia Biacchi competes at No. 2, singles for Loyalsock during a quarterfinal match with Central Columbia's Sydney Barry at Bruce Henry Park on Thursday.

Central Columbia 1

SINGLES

1. Caroline Crawford (L) def. Cassandra Marte, 6-3, 6-1. 2. Gia Biachi (L) def. Sydney Barry, 6-2, 6-2. 3. Vivian Reem (L) def. Truc-Nhu Nguyen, 6-0, 6-2.

DOUBLES

Lashlyn Sauers/Kaylene Kriner (L) led Zoe Seely/Chloe Winters, 6-7 (5), 6-1, 1-2 (unfinished); 2. Savana Thomas/Alexis Kulp (CC) def. Kinsley Hill/Annalise Berger, 6-2, 6-4.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Gia Biacchi competes at No. 2, singles for Loyalsock during a quarterfinal match with Central Columbia's Sydney Barry at Bruce Henry Park on Thursday.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Gia Biacchi competes at No. 2, singles for Loyalsock during a quarterfinal match with Central Columbia's Sydney Barry at Bruce Henry Park on Thursday.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Gia Biacchi competes at No. 2, singles for Loyalsock during a quarterfinal match with Central Columbia's Sydney Barry at Bruce Henry Park on Thursday.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Vivian Reem competes at No. 3, singles for Loyalsock during a quarterfinal match with Central Columbia's Trul-Nhu Nguyen at Bruce Henry Park on Thursday.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Vivian Reem competes at No. 3, singles for Loyalsock during a quarterfinal match with Central Columbia's Trul-Nhu Nguyen at Bruce Henry Park on Thursday.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Vivian Reem competes at No. 3, singles for Loyalsock during a quarterfinal match with Central Columbia's Trul-Nhu Nguyen at Bruce Henry Park on Thursday.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Vivian Reem competes at No. 3, singles for Loyalsock during a quarterfinal match with Central Columbia's Trul-Nhu Nguyen at Bruce Henry Park on Thursday.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Vivian Reem competes at No. 3, singles for Loyalsock during a quarterfinal match with Central Columbia's Trul-Nhu Nguyen at Bruce Henry Park on Thursday.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Vivian Reem competes at No. 3, singles for Loyalsock during a quarterfinal match with Central Columbia's Trul-Nhu Nguyen at Bruce Henry Park on Thursday.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Kaylene Kriner competes at No. 1, doubles for Loyalsock during a quarterfinal match with Central Columbia at Bruce Henry Park on Thursday.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Kaylene Kriner competes at No. 1, doubles for Loyalsock during a quarterfinal match with Central Columbia at Bruce Henry Park on Thursday.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Caroline Crawford competes at No. 1, singles for Loyalsock during a quarterfinal match with Central Columbia's Cassandra Marte at Bruce Henry Park on Thursday.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Kaylene Kriner, left, and Lashlyn Sauers competes at No. 1, doubles for Loyalsock during a quarterfinal match with Central Columbia at Bruce Henry Park on Thursday.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Kinsley Hill competes at No. 2, doubles for Loyalsock during a quarterfinal match with Central Columbia at Bruce Henry Park on Thursday.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Kinsley Hill, left, and Annalise Berger competes at No. 2, doubles for Loyalsock during a quarterfinal match with Central Columbia at Bruce Henry Park on Thursday.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Kinsley Hill competes at No. 2, doubles for Loyalsock during a quarterfinal match with Central Columbia at Bruce Henry Park on Thursday.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Kaylene Kriner, left, and Lashlyn Sauers competes at No. 1, doubles for Loyalsock during a quarterfinal match with Central Columbia at Bruce Henry Park on Thursday.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Lashlyn Sauers competes at No. 1, doubles for Loyalsock during a quarterfinal match with Central Columbia at Bruce Henry Park on Thursday.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Caroline Crawford competes at No. 1, singles for Loyalsock during a quarterfinal match with Central Columbia's Cassandra Marte at Bruce Henry Park on Thursday.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Caroline Crawford competes at No. 1, singles for Loyalsock during a quarterfinal match with Central Columbia's Cassandra Marte at Bruce Henry Park on Thursday.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Gia Biacchi competes at No. 2, singles for Loyalsock during a quarterfinal match with Central Columbia's Sydney Barry at Bruce Henry Park on Thursday.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Gia Biacchi competes at No. 2, singles for Loyalsock during a quarterfinal match with Central Columbia's Sydney Barry at Bruce Henry Park on Thursday.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Gia Biacchi competes at No. 2, singles for Loyalsock during a quarterfinal match with Central Columbia's Sydney Barry at Bruce Henry Park on Thursday.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Gia Biacchi competes at No. 2, singles for Loyalsock during a quarterfinal match with Central Columbia's Sydney Barry at Bruce Henry Park on Thursday.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Loyalsock tennis coach Kirk Bower meets with Kaylene Kriner, left and Lashlyn Sauers during a quarterfinal match with Central Columbia at Bruce Henry Park on Thursday.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Gia Biacchi competes at No. 2, singles for Loyalsock during a quarterfinal match with Central Columbia's Sydney Barry at Bruce Henry Park on Thursday.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Caroline Crawford competes at No. 1, singles for Loyalsock during a quarterfinal match with Central Columbia's Cassandra Marte at Bruce Henry Park on Thursday.