By CHRIS BROOKS
WELLSVILLE — The wait for the Lady Lions of Wellsville to get back to the Finals officially met its end on their home court. On Thursday, they would record yet another dominant performance against visiting Fillmore, scoring four of the match’s five wins to propel themselves to the Class B2 Finals on the very next day, as they ended the Lady Eagles season with a 4-1 win.
Charging the trip back to the big dance for the Lady Lions (13-0) was a sweep of both doubles matches, as the first doubles team of Caitlin Bittel and Hanna Miles had to work their way through a tough second set battle with Fillmore’s Emma Hopkins and Molly Mahoney successfully to record the 6-1, 6-4 win. Kelsey Seely and McKenna Wonderling would add in a second doubles win of their own behind a 6-2, 6-1 triumph over Clair Schilke and Annika Wiltsey.
The momentum continued in the singles department with Wellsville capturing two of the three victories needed to clinch match victory over Fillmore (8-5), with Samantha Bidzerkowny’s dominant victory at second singles leading the way, taking the 6-0, 6-1 win over Kristina Wilcox. Finishing it off was Sarah Mattison at third singles, as she fought through a first set battle to earn a second set shutout of Kali White, en route to victory.
The Lady Eagles and their lone win would come from Olivia Chiu at first singles, as she navigated her way towards victory after a second-set tiebreak against Meagan Riley, settling on a 6-2, 7-5 decision in the end. Fillmore’s season has come to a close, as they finish with a record of 8-5 overall.
Wellsville will now vie for their first Sectional Championship since 2014 on Tuesday, as they now face the Lady Eagles of Alfred-Almond for all of the marbles in a 4 p.m. first serve. Alfred-Almond defeated Lyons in a 3-2 decision to advance into the Class B2 Finals to meet the Lady Lions.
Earlier this season, Wellsville defeated Alfred-Almond in a 4-1 decision in their lone matchup of the season back on September 16.
Singles
1. Olivia Chiu (FIL) def. Meagan Riley (WLSV), 6-2, 7-5.
2. Samantha Bidzerkowny (WLSV) def. Kristina Wilcox (FIL), 6-0, 6-1.
3. Sarah Mattison (WLSV) def. Kali White (FIL), 6-3, 6-0.
Doubles
1. Caitlin Bittel/Hanna Miles (WLSV) def. Emma Hopkins/Molly Mahoney (FIL), 6-1, 6-4.
2. Kelsey Seely/McKenna Wonderling (WLSV) def. Clair Schilke/Annika Wiltsey (FIL), 6-2, 6-1.
