The Oneida Daily Dispatch (Oneida, NY)
Skibitski, Lusher storm DII title
The Oneida girls tennis players took the doubles title after defeating Whitesboro.
Even cold, blustery conditions could not cool off two of Oneida tennis’ top players at the Section III tournament.
After cruising to the Division II doubles final, surrendering a combined four games across their first three matches, Oneida’s Lauren Skibitski and Sydney Lusher added another accolade to their 2018 campaign: a Division II doubles title.
The Oneida duo defeated Whitesboro’s Kylie Cleary and Karlie Cubino 6-2, 6-3 for the Divison II doubles championship.
“It was a rough start but we just got used to it and played through it,” Lusher, a sophomore, said of Friday’s conditions.
“No,” the senior Skibitski said, grinning when asked if she had played in worse weather than what Friday offered in Oneida. “This was very different. I am glad we are inside next week.”
Lusher and Skibitski opened with a 6-1, 6-2 win over a New Hartford tandem of Rachel DeRocco and Avery Walters. In the quarterfinal round, Lusher and Skibitski blanked JamesvilleDeWitt’s Sophie Proe and Riya Sharma to advance to the semifinals. There, the Oneida duo took down Molly Burhans and Ellis Han, of Homer, 6-0, 6-1 to secure a spot in the title round.
Both players spent the regular season and team portion of sectionals as solo artists, helping anchor Oneida’s singles play.
Switching to doubles play was nothing new for Skibitski, who teamed with Brianna Laureti in 2017 to capture the Division II doubles championship.
Lusher, however, competed at the singles level, advancing to the Division II quarterfinals.
Neither of Oneida’s tennis standouts seemed to mind.
“It’s great,” Lusher said with a laugh when asked about playing with Skibitski. “We play basketball and softball together, too, so we know each other very well.”
“Sydney is really easy to play with because she is really easy going. She never gets down on herself, and we’ve been playing every sport for many years now,” Skibitski echoed of their chemistry
ection III team champions, and now Section III Division II doubles champs, the pair will get back to work quickly before state qualifiers begin next week.
Moving from an outdoor court to an indoor is something they will have to adjust to, says head coach Todd Hicks.
“We have a short amount of time to dedicate to doubles before competing for a position in the state tournament,” Hicks said. “Being able to transition from the outdoors to indoors will be pivotal. Points will be fast paced. Having a good serve, being better than average on volleys, and being able to return serves will ultimately decide howsuccessfulwe are next week.”
Though other tandems at the qualifiers have been together throughout the year, Hicks is confident in Lusher and Skibitski.
“I feel like Sydney and Lauren will face pressure well,” Hicks said. “Being able to execute at the right moments will decide how far they will progress.”
Skibitski, after reaching the state tournament and falling one round short of the quarterfinals a year ago, wants to get back there in her final year.
“Try to qualify for states, but just to get this far is an accomplishment,” Skibitski said of the goal for next week at Drumlins.
Said Lusher, “Hopefully, make it to states, but whatever happens, happens. It’s been great so far.”