By CHRIS BROOKS and JOHN ANDERSON
The Lions tennis team won on Thursday night, Friday night and Saturday morning. They rest Sunday and they team is at home against Alfred-Almond on Monday. The full game reports and a photo gallery:
Wellsville 5, Avoca-Prattsburgh 0
Sam Bidzerkowny was one of the last Lady Lions competitors left on the court on Friday. As the sun began to set, the lights soon came on as she and Avoca-Prattsburgh’s Genevieve Dabby engaged in a first singles battle for the books. Points were traded back and forth, leading up to a third-set tiebreak.
A tiebreak that Bidzerkowny would deliver the upper hand on, as she went on to defeat Dabby in a thriller to help finish off what would become a 5-0 sweep of the Lady Titans to record their sixth straight win to open their 2023 campaign.
The two battled for nearly three hours to find a winner.
After falling in the opening set in a close 6-4 decision to Dabby, Bidzerkowny rallied back in yet another close battle to record a 6-4 win herself to tie the game at one. When the lights came on for the third and final set between the two competitors, it would need even more time to decide the winner, as the action was forced into a tie break after a 6-all tie — one that Bidzerkowny would break to end an incredible match from start to finish.
The Lady Lions (7-0) would also see Meagan Riley and Sarah Mattison help finish off the singles sweep with their straight-set wins at second and third singles, respectively. In doubles action, the team of Hanna Miles and Caitlin Bittel survived a second-set tie break with Avoca/Prattsburgh’s Olivia Mullen and Gracie Cole to record the 6-1, 7-5 win, while Kelsey Seely and McKenna Wonderling swept their second doubles match in shutout style with a 6-0, 6-0 win.
Wellsville turned right back around and defeated Addison at 10 a.m. on Saturday to improve to 7-0.
Singles
1. Sam Bidzerkowny (WLSV) def. Genevieve Dabby (A/P), 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (5).
2. Meagan Riley (WLSV) def. Camryn Moore (A/P), 6-2, 6-2.
3. Sarah Mattison (WLSV) def. Pauline Charron (A/P), 6-1, 6-0.
Doubles
1. Hanna Miles/Caitlin Bittel (WLSV) def. Olivia Mullen/Gracie Cole (A/P), 6-1, 7-5.
2. Kelsey Seely/McKenna Wonderling (WLSV) def. Ginny Savage/Nataley Patoine (A/P), 6-0, 6-0.
Saturday: Wellsville 4, Addison 1
The Lions tennis team continued their torrid start by improving to 7-0 with a 4-1 win over Addison.
Just as impressive as their record was coming back to the tennis courts 12 hours after the lights were turned off from a win over A-P. The team won three matches in a 4-hour span.
They will get Sunday off. The Lions are home against Alfred-Almond on Monday.
Samantha Bidzerkowny, who played the three-hour match on Friday, returned to defeat Alex Boutelle, 6-1 and 6-2.
In second singles, Meagan Riley picked up a 6-0, 6-2 decision over Katherine Ames 6-0, 6-2.
The Wellsville doubles teams had a sweep as well with Hanna Miles and Caitlin Bittel winning at first doubles and McKenna Wonderling and Peyton Cawley picking up the win by forfeit.
Wellsville Coach Billy Stives was impressed with the effort and said, “The girls played very well today.”
Singles
1. Samantha Bidzerkowny (WLSV) def. Alex Boutelle (ADD) 6-1, 6-2
2. Meagan Riley (WLSV) def. Katherine Ames (ADD) 6-0, 6-2.
3. Sadie Strauss (ADD) def. Sarah Mattison (WLSV) 1-6, 6-4, 6-1
Doubles
1. Hanna Miles/Caitlin Bittel (WLSV) d. Jessi Balance/Kaylee Keech (ADD) 6-0, 6-2.
2. McKenna Wonderling/Peyton Cawley (WLSV) by forfeit.
Thursday: Wellsville 5, Wayland-Cohocton 0
WELLSVILLE — To say that the Lady Lions of Wellsville are on an absolute roll to begin their 2023 campaign on the tennis court, would be an understatement. On Thursday, they kept that fire ablaze with Wayland-Cohocton in town for a visit, as the Lady Lions garnered victories in all five matches to sweep the Lady Eagles with their fifth straight win in a 5-0 decision.
Sam Bidzerkowny and Meagan Riley provided a big spark for the Lady Lions (5-0) in the singles department with outstanding play, as Bidzerkowny rolled to a 6-0, 6-1 win over Wayland-Cohocton’s Pearl Walker at first singles, while Riley recorded a straight-set 6-0, 6-0 shutout of Chloe Hoffman at second singles. To record the sweep, Sarah Mattison was awarded a forfeit win at third singles.
The doubles action was highlighted by a pair of first career wins for both Delilah Dimpfl and Miles Aaron, as the two Lady Lions competitors took care of business with a 6-2, 6-2 win over the second doubles team of Harlee Grodis and Mia Swingle. At first doubles, Hanna Miles and Peyton Cawley finished off the match victory with a 6-1, 6-0 win over Virginia Carr and Cora Hosmer.
Singles
1. Sam Bidzerkowny (WLSV) def. Pearl Walker (W-C), 6-0, 6-1.
2. Meagan Riley (WLSV) def. Chloe Hoffman (W-C), 6-0, 6-0.
3. Sarah Mattison (WLSV) by for.
Doubles
1. Hanna Miles/Peyton Cawley (WLSV) def. Virginia Carr/Cora Hosmer (W-C), 6-1, 6-0.
2. Delilah Dimpfl/Miles Aaron (WLSV) def. Harlee Grodis/Mia Swingle (W-C), 6-2, 6-2.
