The Oneida Daily Dispatch (Oneida, NY)
Oneida returning to Section III Class B final
Three-time defending champion downs Whitesboro in semis
The Oneida girls tennis team entered this season as one of the clear powerhouses in the area, having appeared in the last four Section III Class B finals.
That streak doesn’t look like it will end any time soon.
Oneida defeated Whitesboro 7-0 in a semifinal on Wednesday afternoon, clinching a fifth consecutive berth in the sectional championship match.
“It’s a great accomplishment just to get there, to the final,” said coach Todd Hicks. “That was our goal at the beginning. Like I mentioned before, our expectation has always been the same, just different girls. The expectation is there to win the whole thing. To be there today, I’m extremely happy for the young girls and for the girls that have returned. It’s a great accomplishment.”
Oneida entered Wednesday’s match with Whitesboro having already taken a pair of 7-0 victories during Tri-Valley League play this season and a third win was never in doubt. Mattie Hicks and Meghan Friske posted a quick 6-1, 6-2 victory in fourth doubles over Shelby Miller and Holly Rolfe while at the same time, Brianna Laureti was wrapping up her 6-0, 6-2 win over Tanya Kuts in first singles. Lauren Skibitski
won second singles 6-1, 6-1 over Paula Germershausen for the hosts before Sydney Lusher earned the match-clinching point with a 6-2, 6-1 victory over Nicole Duegaw.
“It’s really exciting,” said Emily Marshall. “It’s my first year on varsity so it’s going to be a fun experience.”
Marshall and Catherine Brown appeared on their way to an easy victory in second doubles, taking the first set from Karlie Cubino and Kylie Cleary 6-0. TheWhitesboro duo fought back to take the second set 6-3 but Marshall and Brown refused to cede the point, winning the third set 6-1.
“We just weren’t playing how we should have,” said Marshall. “It just was kind of like regather what we need to do and then go back to basics and get it done.”
The visitors also threatened to capture a point in third doubles. Ashley Kim andHayley Lawter jumped out to a 5-2 lead in the first set against Molly Moyer and Madeline Tallman. Oneida’s pair rallied back, getting within 5- 4 when Tallman smashed a shot at the net on game point. Moyer added a nice drop shot in the next game that helped knot the set at 5-5. The hosts took the next two games as well to win the set before taking the second set 6-3.
Kylie Chesebro and Anna Hood wrapped up the victory with a 6- 0, 6-3 firstdoubles win over Kristina Kuts and Isha Smith.
Oneida advances to the final where it will face Cazenovia, last year’s Section III Class C champion. The Lakers defeated Christian Brothers Academy 4-3 on Wednesday.
The two teams met once already this season, a 5-2 victory for Hicks’ squad over the short- handed Lakers in the Chittenango tournament.
“It’s going to be a different look for us,” said Hicks. “Caz was missing a player and one player out of a lineup makes a huge difference. We got to have a great day to be able to win such a big match for a young team. We’re looking forward to it.
“The nerves will be there. The mental game will be a big part of Friday, especially with a young team. They’ve been put in those situations often enough andwe hope they’re ready.”
The Section III Class B final is scheduled for Friday at 2:30 p.m. at the Mott Tennis Center in Utica.