USC’s Madson leads local netters into WPIAL tournament
Charlotte Madson of Upper St. Clair will challenge Ananya Dua of Shady Side Academy for the WPIAL Class AAA girls’ tennis singles championship today, (Sept. 18) at 2:30 p.m. on Dua’s home courts at Shady Side.
Madson advanced to the semifinals by defeating Jenna Bailey of Franklin Regional (10-3) and Lucy Gloniger from Hampton, 10-2, in the opening rounds played at Keystone Oaks High School. Madson outlasted Fox Chapel’s Laurel Shymansky, 0-6, 6-1, 6-2, to reach the finals and also qualify for the PIAA championships set for November in Hershey.
Madson led a parade of local talent into the district tournament. The Upper St. Clair netter claimed the Section 4-AAA title with a 6-0, 6-0 sweep of Montour’s Amanda Bruscemi in the championship match.
After a first-round bye, Madson dispatched Kaylee Musiol, 10-0, before defeating Mt. Lebanon’s Skylar Morgan, 10-8, in the semifinals. Morgan beat Jessica Fanning of Bethel Park, 6-0, 6-1, in the consolation match.
Morgan had reached the Final Four with wins against Abby Walls and Olivia Warner while Fanning defeated Jen Holcombe from Peters Township and Bella Sadowski in her bouts. Both Morgan and Fanning join Madison in the WPIAL tournament as the top four finishers in each section advanced to the district finals.
Other local competitors in the Section 4 tournament included: Megan Hixon from Peters Township, Liz Beechy and Kate Crider from Canon-McMillan, Margo Mason and Danielle Ferrer from Chartiers Valley, Kristi Riley of Lebo and Julia Gross from USC. Beechy and Hixon reached the quarterfinals before being eliminated by Madison and Bruscemi.
In Section 4-AA, Amber Palmer and Theresa Novak from Keystone Oaks along with Maria Cosantino and Bailey Burgess from Bishop Canevin competed but did not advance to the WPIAL tournament. All dropped their first-round matches.
The WPIAL doubles tournament will be held Oct. 1-2. The same format for singles and sites will be used. Visit www.wpial.com for additional details.