Central Columbia ends Bucktail’s tennis season in playoffs, 4-0

By Bees O’Brien

BLOOMSBURG- In early August, the 2024 Bucktail tennis season was in jeopardy of not being played due to lack of participation. Several students would step up and many of which had very little tennis experience. Somehow the Lady Bucks would manage to keep their winning season and playoff streak alive by overachieving expectations and finishing the regular season at 7-5 and also kept their incredible 18-straight postseason appearances streak alive.

They would hit the road in the PIAA District IV 2A preliminary round of the team tennis playoffs. Their foe would be the same team that eliminated the Lady Bucks last season, the Lady Blue Jays of Central Columbia.

District IV playoffs rules have a stoppage of play once a team reaches 3 wins, so when Bucktail fell behind 4-0 the final was called. Bucktail’s Eva Sockman was in a battle with Central’s Rihanna Baker in the second set when their match was pulled. Sockman and Baker were ties 6-6 in that set after Baker had claimed the first set, 6-2.

The Lady Bucks’ Makenna Bissman and Lola English both dropped their singles matches. Doubles teams of Matti Mason and Carrie Ditty suffered the same fate. Iris Moore and Riley Salizzoni would also drop their doubles match.

Bucktail’s amazing postseason streak is the longest of such in any sport in District IV. It’s an incredible accomplishment when those who remember prior to coaches Alison and Dan Heiser taking over the program. Bucktail rarely won a single match, or set for that matter and playoffs were never even a thought. With a strong core returning for the 2025 season, the Lady Bucks have a shot at extending that streak.

Central Columbia (11-6) will now travel to top seeded Jersey Shore (17-0) on Thursday in the 2A Quarterfinals. Bucktail’s season ends with a 7-6 overall record.

SINGLES

Eva Sockman (B)  vs. Rihanna Baker (CC)  2-6, 6-6, (Suspended)

Natalia Taylor (CC)  6-1, 6-0 def. Makenna Bissman (B)  6-1, 6-2

Macy Gearhart (CC) def. Lola English (B). 6-1, 6-1

DOUBLES

Cassandra Marte/ Kaitlyn Zanoline (CC) def. Matti Mason/ Carrie Ditty (B)  6-1, 6-2

Sydney Barry/ Emily LaRouche (CC)  def.  Riley Salizzoni/ Iris Moore (B)  6-1, 6-0