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Mt. Lebanon nets PIAA tennis berth

By Eleanor Bailey 4 min read
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Kristi Riley returns a backhand during her match against Megan Hixon. The senior posted a 6-3, 6-4 win at No. 1 singles and helped Mt. Lebanon to a 4-1 win over Peters Township in the WPIAL consolation match to determine the third team to advance to the PIAA team tournament.

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Alex Garcia makes a return during No. 3 singles action against Morgan Happe. She dropped a 6-2, 7-5 decision as Peters Township fell to Mt. Lebanon, 4-1, in the WPIAL consolation battle to determine the third team to advance to the PIAA tournament.

Losing an opportunity to compete for a WPIAL championship can have a devastating impact on a sports team. However, despite a 4-1 loss in the district semifinals, Mt. Lebanon bounced back, defeated Peters Township by the same score, and earned a berth in the PIAA team tournament for girls’ tennis.

“With a tough loss against North Allegheny, I have to say that everyone responded with great mental toughness and came into the match against Peters expecting to play well and to show what we were made of,” said Lebo net boss Paul Skrok.

As a result of their 4-1 win against the Lady Indians, Lebo advanced to the first round of the PIAA playoffs. The Blue Devils were to battle Fairview, the No. 1 seed from District 10. The winner of the match advanced to the quarterfinals set for Oct. 30 at the Hershey Racquet Club. The semifinals and the finals were scheduled for Oct. 31. NA and Shady Side Academy, the WPIAL champion and runner-up, were the other qualifiers from District VII.

“The girls are excited to be going back to states again this year but in turn they are not just happy to be going as we all know that our goal is be state champions,” Skrok said. “We are focused and determined and feel like we are peaking at the right time.”

The Lebo ladies certainly peaked against Peters. They dropped only one match when Skylar Morgan succumbed to Anna Komer, 6-3, 6-1, at second singles.

Lebo’s doubles duos of Katherine Izzo and Brooke Warshaw as well as Casey Gannon and Lauren Carey set the tone. Izzo and Warshaw dropped Allie D’orazio and Katie Smart, 6-0, 6-2, at No. 1 doubles. Gannon and Carey dispatched Hannah Asbell and Carla Goldsmith, 6-1, 6-4. The doubles teams were the first matches to finish at the Bethel Park High School courts.

“Our doubles teams really played controlled and intelligent doubles,” Skork said. “We take doubles as a high priority on a daily basis.”

Just as serious were Morgan Happe and Kristi Riley. Happe outlasted Alex Garcia, 6-2, 7-5, at No. 3 singles while Riley outdueled Megan Hixon, 6-3, 6-4, at No. 1 singles.

Of Happe’s hard-fought victory, she fought back from 5-3 down in the second set, Skork said, “Morgan played smart tennis against an excellent player. She was looking forward to the challenge and played with confidence.”

Meanwhile, Skork was also pleased with Riley, his senior captain. “She let her experience show which trickles down to everyone on the team. She is a great leader and won in straight sets to keep her confidence high going into states.”

Taking control of the match early enabled Lebo to establish its dominance over Peters Township. The two teams had battled three weeks earlier for the section crown with the Indians dropping a 3-2 decision to the Blue Devils.

“With having played a very close match with them prior, we had a few things to work on and make sure we didn’t let them get into a good rhythm and build confidence,” Skork said.

“The girls really stepped up as a team when they had to the most. We knew we could make it a more decisive victory the next time around and I think we proved that. The best compliment I have for our team is that we are continuing to improve by every match. We learn from our setbacks and strive to be much better the next shot we have, whether it be a close win or a loss.”

With the loss, Peters Township finished the season with a 17-4 record.

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