TIM WEIGHT/Special to the Sun-Gazette Jersey Shore's Ezra Paulhamus chases a ball during a District 4 quarterfinal matchup against Selinsgrove on April 30, 2026, at Jersey Shore. Paulhamus earned Shore's third point in Friday's state quarterfinal win over Quaker Valley, as the Bulldogs won 3-2.

HERSHEY – Even with support and momentum on your side, there isn’t much that can prepare you for being the match decider, a true win-or-go-home scenario. Jersey Shore junior Ezra Paulhamus experienced that firsthand on Friday, as he worked to will his team to a state semifinal in a 2-2 tie.

But despite the pressure, Paulhamus stayed calm and focused on the task at hand, using the momentum he’d been building to continue pouring it on. He’d go on to win 6-7 (6-8), 6-4, 6-3, clinching a 3-2 win over District 7 champ Quaker Valley for Shore and propelling the Bulldogs to the PIAA Class AA semis.

“I saw my teammate Saul (Hensler) finished his game, so I knew it was up to me, and it was super nerve-wracking,” said Paulhamus on the moment. “I just tried to stay calm and just finish my game up.”

“It was crazy, like nothing I’ve ever felt before. We’re in the semifinals of states at Jersey Shore, so that’s pretty crazy,” he added.

After battling Quaker Valley senior Tanner Schultz to a first-set tiebreaker, Paulhamus had to deal with the adversity of falling behind a set, with Shultz scraping it out, 8-6. A playstyle adjustment helped him to do just that.

“The first set was really, really close. (Shultz) was super good,” said Paulhamus. “In the second and third set, I was just more aggressive.”

Paulhamus’s match was one of three examples of Quaker Valley putting Shore’s trustworthy singles core to the test. Saul Hensler endured a similar battle at Singles Court 3, and District 4 singles champ Ryder Fink narrowly avoided a third set.

Identically, Hensler fell just short in a first-set tiebreaker before largely dominating the second and third sets. He won 12 of his last 17 games to help the Bulldogs tie it at 2-2, taking his match over Quaker Valley’s Charlie Pyle by a score of 6-7, 6-2, 6-3.

For Fink, neither set was a gimme, as Will Meagher put him to the test. After winning his first set 6-4 to avoid a set extension, he’d endure a second-set tiebreaker, winning it 8-6 to grant the Bulldogs their first point.

“Our singles are pretty strong,” said Paulhamus when discussing the team’s performance. “I have faith that Ryder could win any match, and I’m confident Saul can win every match too.”

Doubles didn’t go quite as well for the Bulldogs, as Quaker Valley (12-3) swept, but each duo was able to win some games. In particular, No. 2 doubles duo Dillon Harsanyi and Dylan Hensler narrowly fell in straight sets, winning eight games in a 6-4, 6-4 loss.

The road continues on Saturday for the Bulldogs, where the defining question of their campaign will officially be answered. That question being, how far can they climb?

Their semifinal match is set to take place at 2 p.m., where Jersey Shore (20-0) will face District 3 third-place finisher East Pennsboro (15-3). Win there, and it would face the winner of District 10 champ Cathedral Prep (16-3) and District 7 runner-up North Catholic (15-4) at 6 p.m. for a shot at a state title.

“I’m just happy we’re even here,” said Paulhamus on his thoughts heading into semis. “Jersey Shore has never even won districts as a boys tennis team, so it’s pretty awesome.

Both matches will take place at Hershey Racquet Club.

PIAA CLASS AA BOYS TENNIS TEAM SEMIFINALS

Jersey Shore 3, Quaker Valley 2

SINGLES

1. Ryder Fink (JS) def. Will Meagher (QV), 6-4, 7-6 (8-6); 2. Ezra Paulhamus (JS) def. Tanner Schultz (QV), 6-7 (6-8), 6-4, 6-3. 3. Saul Hensler (JS) def. Charlie Pyle (QV), 6-7 (6-8), 6-2, 6-3.

DOUBLES

1. Dom Ditano/Sutton Hegel (QV) def. Abram Paulhamus/Luke Sarge (JS), 6-2, 6-2. 2. Carter Hawes/Patrick Conner (QV) def. Dillon Harsanyi/Dylan Hensler (JS), 6-4, 6-4.

Record: Jersey Shore 20-0.

Next match: vs. East Pennsboro, Saturday at 2 p.m.