Oneida returns to Section III Class B final

Semifinal victory over Homer pushes record to 18-0

ONEIDA >> Oneida girls tennis coach expected Homer to offer his unbeaten team a higher level of competition than many of its foes this season in Wednesday’s Section III Class B semifinal.

His players proved they were more than ready for the Trojans.

The No. 1 seed didn’t lose a game in third and fourth doubles while winning every set in the match, advancing to its fourth straight final with the 7- 0 victory.

“We were ready for them,” said Hicks. “I think we peaked right now. We’re playing good tennis right now. We had a good practice yesterday. The girls are pretty humble; they’re pretty focused.”

Julianna Cavanagh and Kylie Chesebro quickly earned the first point of the match, defeating Molly Burhans and Carmela Mooney 6- 0, 6- 0 in third doubles. The duo hasn’t lost a set all season and hasn’t lost a game in 12 of 19 matches.

Jillian Brodock and Samantha Lusher also didn’t drop a game in the first set of their first doubles match against Maddie Jennings and Ana Shore. The Trojans took the first game of the next set but didn’t win another, with Brodock and Lusher winning 6-0, 6-1 for Oneida’s second point. Claire Mancarella and Jenna Russ wrapped up a 6-1, 6- 4 victory over Victoria Shevchuk and Christine Han at approximately the same time, bringing Oneida within one point of a return trip to the championship match.

Oneida’s Lexi Skibitski earned that point, two days after her younger sister Lauren earned the clincher against Jamesville-DeWitt. The senior maintained her unbeaten record this year with a 6-1, 6-1 victory over Brooke White. Lauren Skibitski then finished a 6-1, 6-3 win over Rachel Crompton in third singles, also staying unbeaten for the season.

Oneida’s fourth doubles team finished the matchmuch as it started, without dropping a game. Anna Hood and Deanna DiFabio beat Abby Gray and Aliza Willsey 6- 0, 6-0 for the final point in the shutout victory.

Oneida’s four doubles teams also kept their unbeaten streaks going in Wednesday’s victory, the team’s 27th straight win.

The two-time defending Section III Class B champion will face Christian Brothers Academy in the final, currently scheduled for 3 p.m. on Friday at the Mott Tennis Center in Utica, weather permitting. In the event of a rainout on Friday, the match will be postponed until Saturday at 12 p.m.

KYLE MENNIG – ONEIDA DAILY DISPATCH Oneida’s Anna Hood follows through on a shot at the net during a fourth doubles match against Homer’s Abby Gray and Aliza Willsey in a Section III Class B semifinal at Oneida on Wednesday.

KYLE MENNIG – ONEIDA DAILY DISPATCH Oneida’s Deanna DeFabio serves the ball during a fourth doubles match against Homer’s Abby Gray and Aliza Willsey.