Lady Bucks take first round D4 playoff over South Side
FARWELL, PA – The Bucktail girls’ tennis team won its opening round match Thursday over South Williamsport by a 3-1 score, moving into the next round of the District 4 tournament. The Lady Bucks are coming off a 13-3 regular season record, which continued a 15-year streak of winning records and qualifying for the district team playoffs. The Lady Bucks were matched up with South Williamsport in the first round for a third time in recent weeks. Bucktail and South Williamsport had split two 3-2 matches during the regular season. From the beginning of the match it could be seen that the Bucks were determined to win.
At number one singles, Bucktail’s Kayla Probert was matched up with returning State Champion Olivia Dorner. Probert would rally with Dorner, but Dorner would prove why she was State Champion. Emma Poorman and Bella English played excellent matches at number two and number three singles. They would both be victorious. Then Buckail’s doubles teams, made up of Alexis Lowery, Abby Miller, Dakota Werts, and Gigi Balchun, who are on a late season surge, would play excellent matches and help get the remaining point to defeat South WIlliamsport.
At the end of the match, Bucktail would win 3-1, to advance to the next round of playoffs.
Coach Alison Heiser said afterwards, “The girls have been playing hard these last two weeks. They have been constantly trying new techniques and continuing to learn to prepare themselves for play-offs. And it really has paid off. They all played amazingly well tonight, and we are so happy for them.”
Olivia Dorner (SW) def. Kayla Probert (B) 6-0, 6-0
Emma Poorman (B) def, Eve Jackson (SW) 6-4, 6-3
Bella English (B) def. Greta Kimble (SW) 6-1, 6-4
Alexis Lowery/ Abby Miller (B) def. Sadee Stahl/ Gia Hart (SW) 6-1, 2-6, 6-2
Dakota Werts/ Gigi Balchun (B) leading Olivia Jackson/ Livy Harvey (SW) 6-4, 1-1 Matched Pulled
Bucktail advanced to the next round of the playoffs; time, date, and opponent to be announced.
The Lady Bucks had played Montgomery Wednesday to finish the regular season. The Bucks would lose a close match 3-2. The match was very tight from the beginning to the end. Despite the loss, the Lady Bucks played extremely well and would prepare to play the next day in districts.
