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Lancers fall to Central Columbia, 3-2, in District 4 team final

By GARRETT CARR 4 min read

Loyalsock knew that their PIAA District 4 Girls Team Tennis Championship match against Central Columbia was going to come down to the wire. The two teams had split 3-2 matches this season, and were evenly matched on paper. Ultimately, Central Columbia prevailed, winning a dramatic match at 2nd doubles with two sets won in tiebreaks to beat the Lancers, 3-2.

"I’m very proud of my girls. They battled hard. They’ve had a lot of tennis the last couple of days. We’re a little banged up, but they fought hard. To be down in that number two doubles match and battle back to force it into a tiebreaker, it basically comes down to a point or two, and that’s what it came down to. I’m proud of them," Loyalsock coach Kirk Bower said.

Central Columbia and Loyalsock, plus Danville, all looked like they could beat each other when the district tournament came around after the teams split matches this year. But, it was Central Columbia, who had to beat the other two, that was the last team standing.

"Any of the teams could have won it. Starting off the season, you just never know what you have, because last year we got beat in the quarterfinals, 3-0, against Loyalsock. But, all of a sudden, after we beat Loyalsock the first time, it was like, ‘Alright, we have something here,’ because they’re the best team. From that point on, our girls just started getting better and better and better and started believing," Central Columbia head coach Lee Ercolani said.

Loyalsock, as expected, won the first two points of the match at 1st and 2nd singles as Emily Crawford beat Cassandra Marte and sister Caroline Crawford beat Truc-Nhu Nguyen in straight sets. But, the Jays knew they had a real chance to win the three remaining points, and the district championship that would go with it.

Central Columbia got their first two points of the match nearly simultaneously when Zoe Seely beat Vivian Reem at 3rd singles and the 1st doubles pairing of Savana Thomas and Sydney Barry beat Lashlyn Sauers and Annalise Berger. Seely's match was considered a swing match by both coaching staffs, but she went out there and handled business, losing just five games.

“It literally feels amazing to know that I’m able to pull that win for my team and be able to contribute. It is such a rewarding feeling. There’s nothing better," Seely said.

Once again, the match came down to 2nd doubles. Central's Rogan and Smith won the first set in a tiebreak, 9-7, and were up 3-0 in the second set when Seely and the Jays' 1st doubles teams won. They extended that lead to 5-1, and appeared to be close to wrapping up the district title. That's when things got interesting.

Loyalsock's pair of Kaylene Kriner and Nadia Ghayyada started playing their best tennis of the day, rallying to win the next four games and tie the set up at 5-5. Central was able to win the next game to go up 6-5, but Loyalsock answered to send it to another tiebreak.

The tiebreak was back-and-forth, and both doubles teams saved set points. But, at 9-8, the Jays were able to finally clinch the set, match, and the district title.

“For me, as a senior, this was my last chance to win districts, and I’ve never won any medal before in my life. This was my one opportunity, and I was just so overwhelmed with emotion. I’m so proud of myself, Chloe, and my whole team," Rogan Smith said.

According to senior captain Cassandra Marte, this title was the culmination of a lot of hard work.

“It means so much to me. I’ve been playing as a starter for three years. You always think about it, but it was never really in reach. This year, it was in reach, and we just really wanted it. Everybody on the team puts all their effort in. Every practice, we all worked so hard toward it. It just means so much to us, especially my senior year, to go out with a bang," she said.

Loyalsock will play in the first round of the PIAA State Tournament against Wyomissing at the Hershey Racquet Club on Tuesday.

DISTRICT 4 GIRLS TENNIS TEAM FINAL

Central Columbia 3, Loyalsock 2

SINGLES

1. Emily Crawford (L) def. Cassandra Marte (CC), 6-1, 6-2. 2. Caroline Crawford (L) def. Truc-Nhu Nguyen (CC), 6-2, 6-1. 3. Zoe Seely (CC) def. Vivian Reem (L), 6-2, 6-3.

DOUBLES

1. Savana Thomas/Sydney Barry (CC) def. Lashlyn Sauers/Annalise Berger (L), 6-4, 6-1.

2. Chloe Winters/Rogan Smith (CC) def. Kaylene Kriner/Nadia Ghayyada (L), 7-6 (9-7), 7-6 (10-8).

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