Mt. Lebanon runner-up to North Allegheny in tennis
Top two singles players Morgan Happe, left, and Skylar Morgan
Mt. Lebanon finished runner-up to North Allegheny in girls’ tennis. The WPIAL title was the fourth straight for the Tigers. The two teams have qualified for the PIAA team tournament, which begins Oct. 25.
Morgan Happe connects on a shot during No. 2 singles action in the WPIAL finals.
Coach Paul Skork and Skylar Morgan discuss strategy during a break in the action at the WPIAL AAA team championships
Catherine Izzo and Lauren Carey access the situation during a break in doubles action. The duo scored a 6-2, 6-2, victory but that was not enough at Mt. Lebanon dropped a 3-2 decision to North Allegheny in the WPIAL team championship match.
Golda Gershanock returns a shot during No. 3 singles play at the WPIAL finals.
One singles win: That was what Mt. Lebanon looked for but didn’t get when the Blue Devils attempted to dethrone North Allegheny in the WPIAL Class AAA girls’ tennis championships at Sewickley Academy.
The Lebo ladies swept the doubles competition, but the Tigers won all three singles matches to post the 3-2 victory and claim their fourth consecutive district title.
“We controlled doubles form beginning to end,” said Paul Skrok. “We just could not pull out a singles match. They were better than us in the singles position. So congratulations to them. They deserve it.”
Deserved and earned was the Tigers’ title. Despite a shoulder injury that prevented her from serving normally, Anna Li fended off Skylar Morgan, 6-3, 6-4, at No. 1 singles. Li’s twin, Tina, dispatched Morgan Happe, 6-1, 6-0, at No. 2 singles. Anna is a Harvard recruit, and Tina is bound for the Naval Academy.
“Skylar and Morgan are our two seniors in our lineup. They have been there a long time, been in this position, but it’s the first time getting to the finals,” Skrok said. “So it was exciting for them.
“Skylar played a great match, a close match with Anna, even an injured Anna is very good. Sometimes it’s hard to play an injured player but Skylar did fantastic. I’m very proud of her.
“Morgan ran into a buzz saw in Tina,” Skrok continued. “She played lights out, so you tip your hat to them.”
Although she lost, 6-2, 6-4, at No. 3 singles, Golda Gershanock got a nod from Skrok. The junior made a match out of her contest against Alex Huang, who is the fourth-ranked sophomore in the state. Skrok noted that when the Blue Devils lost to NA earlier in the season, 3-2, the No. 3 singles match was “not close” at all.
“Golda did a fantastic job,” he said. “She improved leaps and bounds. In her mind she would love another crack at it. Moving forward this is a huge confidence boost for her. She did fantastic.”
Lebo has a fantastic chance at advancing through the PIAA tournament, which commences Oct. 25, because of its doubles. Catherine Izzo and Lauren Carey defeated Rebecca Rest and Jenna Kolano, 6-2, 6-2, while Casey Gannon and Brooke Warshaw dispatched Riya Yadav and Katherine Ambrose, 6-1, 6-0, in the team finals.
The foursome compiled a 40-4 record last year. The duos are undefeated this season even though they have been mixed up. “It’s different pairings but the same players as last year,” explained Skrok. “What we did was we worked on strategies and who gelled best and we thought mixing it up a little bit would pay dividends and it has in that we have not had a losing doubles match this year.”
After winning the section title, Lebo swept through the WPIAL team tournament. The Blue Devils blanked Penn-Trafford, 5-0; defeated Upper St. Clair, 4-1; and slipped past Fox Chapel, 3-2, to reach the WPIAL finals and qualify for the PIAA team tournament.
“It’s been a fantastic season so far,” Skrok said. “We’re happy with WPIAL runner-ups to a fantastic team in North Allegheny. We were so close. But we look forward to the state tournament. Taking it one match at a time and one step at a time and hopefully we can get another crack at them,” he added.