GLEN DALE – University took the lead after the first day of the OVAC girls’ tennis tournament at the sun-splashed John Marshall High School courts.
The Hawks swept all three doubles titles to lead Class 4A.
At No. 1, University’s top-seeded Lyla Byers and Emma Daffner posted an 8-4 win over the second-seeded duo of Madeline Bradshaw and Taylor Broadwater from Wheeling Park. The Patriots actually led 3-2 but the Hawks reeled off wins in six of the final seven games, breaking Wheeling Park’s serve at 5-3.
Byers, an NCAA Division I prospect, won at No. 1 doubles last year with her sister. She is also the defending No. 1 singles champion.
At No. 2, second-seeded Emma Rusiecki and Julianne Minchau teamed for a victory over top-seeded crosstown rivals Natalia Cassim and Grace Forman from Morgantown.
At No. 3, Brooklyn Rutledge and Hannah Stemple defeated the fourth-seeded Oak Glen twosome of Kaylex Gibson and Reese Witherow. The Golden Bears had taken down No. 1 Morgantown in the semifinals.
The girls portion of the four-day event concludes today with singles matches. The boys take over the court on Wednesday for doubles competition, with boys singles completing the week on Thursday.
By KIM NORTH/The Intelligencer
