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Sock girls beat Hughesville in D4 team semis to advance to finals, secure state berth

By Jon Gerardi 6 min read

Loyalsock girls tennis coach Kirk Bower relayed a simple message to his seven girls tennis players who were competing on Tuesday afternoon at Montoursville's McCall Middle School. Bower and the Lancers knew Hughesville had a number of talented players, so it was simple: get business done and pick up three wins.

"The one thing I told them today is even though we played a lot over the weekend with district doubles, they really need to take care of what's going on on their court. Get business done because we need three wins," Bower said. "I don't care where the three come from, so we can get off and rest our bodies for Thursday if we win."

And taking care of business worked. Those three wins came fast and Loyalsock beat the Spartans, 3-0, in the District 4 team tournament semifinals on Wednesday afternoon, claiming the victory in less than a hour to advance to Thursday's finals.

"That's kind of the mindset I try to get into and it seemed like it worked today," Bower said.

It's been a long three weeks of tennis and it's paying off for players after singles and doubles play leading into the team tournament.

"I think we have been playing a lot of tennis lately. I just told the girls, because they're a little tired, I said that's the benefits of success: you keep playing," Bower said. "I also point out a week ago we were concentrated on singles districts; this past week on doubles districts. I said now its time for team. The individual stuff is behind us now, now you're trying to win for your teammates and friends. Take care fo business because you never know if somebody has a bad day."

The win advances Loyalsock to Thursday's District 4 team tournament final against either Danville or Central Columbia at Muncy at 4 p.m. Loyalsock secured a trip to the state tournament regardless of Thursday's outcome by being a finalist.

The Lancers played well from the get go. At No. 1 singles, Emily Crawford had a matchup against Talia Saka and earned a 6-0, 6-0 win against the Spartan in the first win of the day in a fast matchup on the furthest court.

The Lancers won two singles matchups and a doubles victory to secure the win and advance.

In doubles competition, the Lancers' Lashlyn Sauers and Annalise Berger earned a win at No. 1 doubles against Hughesville's Naomi Farley and Isabella Olshefskie. The Lancers' duo won that matchup, 6-1, 6-1 to clinch the victory for the third win.

Hughesville earned a 1-0 lead in the first set before the Lancers rattled off six consecutive wins to take the first set. In the second set, Hughesville cut the deficit to 2-1 but Loyalsock would win out from there.

"We've been working a lot on the doubles (teams) recently with movement and just being confident at the net," Bower said. "We've seen in the past to not put some points away that we should. I think it's just the confidence level. We're all believing in one another with this team. But that was fun."

Hughesville's Caroline Hicks played very well at No. 2 singles against Caroline Crawford in a match that was suspended in the second set after the win had been secured. Crawford went ahead 1-0 in the first set, but Hicks stayed right with her, cutting deficits to 2-1, 3-2, 4-3 and 5-4. It was when trailing 5-4 that Hicks won back-to-back points for a 6-5 lead to force a tiebreaker, where Crawford would eventually win 7-6 in a hard-fought contest.

"I was very pleased with the way we battled. Loyalsock's a very good team. When we started this season, we started I think the week after school was out and we went two times a week during the summer and the girls worked and worked," Hughesville coach Craig Weaver Sr. said. "It speaks to the kind of girls I have that they want to work. By them working, we had a season that I didn't think would end up 15-5 ending up 15-5, and we made progress."

Loyalsock led 2-0 in the semifinals with a win at No. 3 singles. That's where Vivian Reem had a 6-0, 6-0 sweep over Hughesville's Shelby Myers.

"Sure, you want to go on, but we have gained so much experience. We had three girls that never played never tennis this year until they picked up a raquet and those young ladies were just outstanding," Weaver Sr. said. "Just the overall attitude? I can't say enough about them. This team was really, really a good team to coach and good kids to be around. It's one of those years. Some years you don't have that."

At No. 2 doubles, Loyalsock's Kaylene Krimer and Nadai Ghayadda won the first set 6-0. In the second set, Hughesville's Olivia Kyle and Micayla Applegate made Loyalsock's team work for each point. Loyalsock held a lead throughout, but Hughesville kept battling and trailed 2-1, 3-2, 4-2, 5-2 and 5-4 before the set was called with the win already determined.

Like Loyalsock, Hughesville saw a lot of success this year.

Saka and Hicks reached the District 4 doubles team tournament, Hicks advanced to the second round of the singles tournament and Hughesville came just shy of reaching the District 4 team final and state berth.

"You always want to do the best and do more, but these kids overachieved this year," Weaver Sr. said. "There's good things because five of the seven are coming back."

Loyalsock 3, Hughesville 0

(DISTRICT 4 TEAM SEMIFINALS)

SINGLES

1. Emily Crawford (L) def. Talia Saka, 6-0, 6-0; 2. Caroline Crawford (L) led Caroline Hicks, 6-5 (7-6), 1-0; 3. Vivian Reem (L) def. Shelby Myers, 6-0, 6-0.

DOUBLES

1. Lashlyn Sauers/Annalise Berger (L) def. Naomi Farley/Isabella Olshefskie, 6-1, 6-1; 2. Kaylene Krimer/Nadia Ghayyada (L) led Olivia Kyle/Micayla Applegate, 6-0, 5-4.

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