Beaver girls' tennis team returns top of lineup for state qualifier
Led by singles players Raquel Holiday, Mattie Taylor and Cassidy Griffin, the Bobcats finished third in the WPIAL and qualified for the state tournament last season.
All three returned this season, and Beaver went through the first round of its section schedule undefeated.
“We would like to get in the top three at WPIALs again,” Beaver coach Riley Baker said. “It’s going to be challenging.”
Holiday is the team’s No. 1 singles player for the second straight season. She finished second in the WPIAL Section 2-AA singles tournament last season to Ellwood City’s Reed Kegel. Kegel is also the only player in the section to beat Holiday this season.
Taylor, the team’s No. 3 singles player last season, moved up to the No. 2 singles this year. Last year’s No. 2 singles player was Griffin, who also qualified for the WPIAL singles by finishing third in the section. But she is playing No. 1 doubles this season with senior Lizzy Jurich. Griffin teamed with Holiday last season to make it all the way to the semifinals of the WPIAL Class AA doubles tournament.
Katherine Deitrick, a sophomore, moved up from the junior varsity squad to take the team’s No. 3 singles position. At No. 2 doubles, Sara Wacthner teams with either Marrissa Mamone or Bella Albanese.
The team has been tested a few times this year. Beaver lost to WPIAL Class AA favorite Quaker Valley 3-2 in a non-section match and beat conference foes Blackhawk and Riverside 3-2.
All three returned this season, and Beaver went through the first round of its section schedule undefeated.
“We would like to get in the top three at WPIALs again,” Beaver coach Riley Baker said. “It’s going to be challenging.”
Holiday is the team’s No. 1 singles player for the second straight season. She finished second in the WPIAL Section 2-AA singles tournament last season to Ellwood City’s Reed Kegel. Kegel is also the only player in the section to beat Holiday this season.
Taylor, the team’s No. 3 singles player last season, moved up to the No. 2 singles this year. Last year’s No. 2 singles player was Griffin, who also qualified for the WPIAL singles by finishing third in the section. But she is playing No. 1 doubles this season with senior Lizzy Jurich. Griffin teamed with Holiday last season to make it all the way to the semifinals of the WPIAL Class AA doubles tournament.
Katherine Deitrick, a sophomore, moved up from the junior varsity squad to take the team’s No. 3 singles position. At No. 2 doubles, Sara Wacthner teams with either Marrissa Mamone or Bella Albanese.
The team has been tested a few times this year. Beaver lost to WPIAL Class AA favorite Quaker Valley 3-2 in a non-section match and beat conference foes Blackhawk and Riverside 3-2.
tennis