Oakland Catholic girls' tennis pair gets silver
After falling one match short of making the PIAA Class AAA doubles tournament in both 2010 and 2011, Oakland Catholic’s Megan Wasson and Nicole Cyterski had the goal of just making states this season.
The duo accomplished their goal and then some, placing second at the state tournament last weekend in Hershey.
“This was a three-year journey for them,” Oakland Catholic coach Mark Paull said. “I’m proud of how they never gave up and kept working hard. They had a goal to make it to states, so getting the silver is the icing on the cake.”
Wasson and Cyterski cruised in their first match in Hershey, 6-0, 6-0, but faced a tough test from the District 1 champions, sisters Maureen Devlin and Katherine Devlin from Wissahickon, in the quarterfinals.
It was a contrast in styles, with Oakland Catholic’s pair liking to play around the net, while the Devlins both played the baseline. The Devlins’ strategy worked in the first set, as they won 6-3.
“After the first set, it looked pretty bleak,” Paull said.
But Oakland Catholic’s duo came back to take the second set 6-2 and third set 6-4 to advance to the semifinals, where it easily won 6-3, 6-0.
In the finals, Wasson and Cyterski saw two familiar faces in Sara Komer and Abby Cummings of Peters Township. The two teams faced off in the WPIAL final, with Komer and Cummings winning 6-2, 6-2.
This time it was closer, but the end result was the same as Peters Township’s tandem won 6-4, 6-3.
“Nicole and Megan took an early lead in the first set and had their chances, but Peters Township ultimately was the best team in the state and very deserving,” Paull said.
The duo accomplished their goal and then some, placing second at the state tournament last weekend in Hershey.
“This was a three-year journey for them,” Oakland Catholic coach Mark Paull said. “I’m proud of how they never gave up and kept working hard. They had a goal to make it to states, so getting the silver is the icing on the cake.”
Wasson and Cyterski cruised in their first match in Hershey, 6-0, 6-0, but faced a tough test from the District 1 champions, sisters Maureen Devlin and Katherine Devlin from Wissahickon, in the quarterfinals.
It was a contrast in styles, with Oakland Catholic’s pair liking to play around the net, while the Devlins both played the baseline. The Devlins’ strategy worked in the first set, as they won 6-3.
“After the first set, it looked pretty bleak,” Paull said.
But Oakland Catholic’s duo came back to take the second set 6-2 and third set 6-4 to advance to the semifinals, where it easily won 6-3, 6-0.
In the finals, Wasson and Cyterski saw two familiar faces in Sara Komer and Abby Cummings of Peters Township. The two teams faced off in the WPIAL final, with Komer and Cummings winning 6-2, 6-2.
This time it was closer, but the end result was the same as Peters Township’s tandem won 6-4, 6-3.
“Nicole and Megan took an early lead in the first set and had their chances, but Peters Township ultimately was the best team in the state and very deserving,” Paull said.
tennis