Oct 28, 2014 2 min read

Mt. Lebanon reached the semifinals in the PIAA tennis tournament before ending its season.

After edging State College, 3-2, in the opening round of action in Altoona, the Lebo ladies ventured on to Hershey. In the quarterfinals played at the Hershey Racquet Club, the Blue Devils bested Harriton, 4-1.

Kristi Riley won at No. 2 singles, 6-0, 6-2, while Morgan Happe captured No. 3 singles, 7-5, 6-2.

Both doubles teams kept their winning streak alive. Christine Ladderer and Marikate Reese won at No. 1 doubles, 6-1, 6-1, while Lauren Carey and Brooke Warshaw combined for a 7-5, 7-5 win at No. 2 doubles.

In the semifinals, Lebo dropped a 4-1 decision to North Allegheny. The Tigers went on to defeated Shady Side Academy, 3-1, for the state title. The Tigers also beat SSA for the WPIAL championship.

Carey and Warshaw were the lone winners for Lebo against NA. The duo won No. 2 doubles when NA defaulted with the score tied, 5-5, in the first set.

Despite the defeat, Lebo completed a successful season. In two years, under the direction of Roberta Russo, the Blue Devils have won back-to-back section banners. They have won all of their matches, sans one against Upper St. Clair, by 5-0 scores.

Additionally, Lebo’s lone losses this fall have been to NA and Shady Side. Lebo lost to Shady Side in the WPIAL semifinals. The Blue Devils blanked Peters Township, 5-0, to qualify for the PIAA tournament.

With all three of its singles players returning, including Skylar Morgan, as well as strong doubles and a host of incoming freshmen, the future is bright for the Lebo ladies. “We have a lot of depth and that’s critical in team tennis,” said Russo. “No. 2 doubles is just as important as No. 1 singles.

“We have a new crop of freshman and we are adding the layers of depth and laying the foundation that is so critical to every successful program.”