Bucktail tennis downs South, 3-2 to claim Mid Penn Conference championship
By Bees O’Brien
FARWELL- In their first meeting with South Williamsport, the Lady Bucks tennis team was without their number one Eva Sockman and a number of players were under the weather in their 5-0 loss at South Williamsport.
On Thursday night Sockman was back and a healthy Lady Bucks squad came full force at the Lady Mounties. Bucktail picked up a pair of singles wins and a doubles victory to deny South a Mid Penn Conference championship, 3-2. The Bucktail victory gave them their second conference title in tennis, their second since capturing the title in 2022.
The Mid Penn titles combined with a pair of NTL titles in 2012 and 2013.
Sockman got things rolling for the Lady Bucks with a 6-0, 6-0 dominant win over South’s Emma McLaughlin at number one.
South Williamsport picked up a point at number two when Mylee Morrison downed Kendall Wagner 6-1, 6-1.
At the number three match Bucktail senior Lola English battled Morgan Ertel in a 6-4, 6-1 victory.
The Lady Bucks dropped the number two doubles contest when Carly Loudenslager and Caroline Melvin upended the team of Carrie Ditty and Riley Salizonni 6-2, 6-4.
Bucktail locked up their second Mid Penn title and seventh straight victory when McKenna Bissman and Kelsie Wagner continued their hot streak by battling the South duo of Ava Foote and Peyton Coolidge in a hard fought 7-6, 4-6, 6-3 victory.
Bucktail, now 12-1 on the season will await the PIAA District IV 2A pairings to be announced this weekend. The Lady Bucks currently sit in third place and will more than likely meet Lewisburg in the quarterfinals.
South Williamsport dropped to 9-6 on the season and could possibly be opening district play at Loyalsock.
SINGLES
Eva Sockman (B) def. Emma McLaughlin (SW) 6-0, 6-0
Mylee Morrison (SW) def. Kendall Wagner (B) 6-1, 6-1
Lola English (B) def. Morgan Ertel (SW) 6-4, 6-1
DOUBLES
McKenna Bissman/ Kelsie Wagner (B) def. Ava Foote/ Peyton Coolidge (SW) 7-6, 4-6, 6-3
Carly Loudenslager/ Caroline Melvin (SW) def. Riley Salizonni/ Carrie Ditty (B) 6-2, 6-4
