NTL GIRLS' TENNIS: TOWANDA EDGES CV TO CLAIM NTL TITLE (2024-09-27)
BY CHRIS MANNINGNorthern Tier Sports ReportTOWANDA — Coming into the season Towanda girls’ tennis coach Lucy Snyder felt this was going to be a rebuilding year for the young Knights. It turns out things got build pretty quick as Towanda edged CV 3-2 to claim their first NTL title since 2020 on Friday.
“I looked at the league and I knew that the whole league was kind of weak, I just wasn’t sure who was going to have the stronger team,” said Snyder.
Wellsboro returned 20 from last year, Cowanesque Valley has been league champions recently, and NP-Liberty had five seniors to Towanda’s one.
“But my kids have drastically improved since the first of the season,” Snyder said. “They have caught on to everything they are doing, the quick pick-ups, they are hitting the ball in air. I’m just amazed at how well they picked up on everything. They’ve done a nice job, and worked very hard.”
Of course, her team had to have everybody on pins and needles for the final match as they needed to beat the Indians to win a league title outright.
Second singles player Nadia Alderfer and third singles player Emma Ackley had quick wins. Nadia won 6-1, 6-0 over CV’s Chelsea Wattles, while Ackley beat Danika Gardner 6-0, 6-3.
The other three matches, though, were nail-biters. First singles player Lainey Alderfer was in a dog fight while both doubles matches went back and forth.
Ultimately, Towanda’s first doubles team of Jayden Conklin and Maddie Blanchard persevered 7-5, 7-5 over Alexandra Fuhrer and Makenna Burdick to clinch the win.
Lainey Alderfer fell in three sets to CV’s Kylee Stone, taking the first set 6-3, with Stone winning the second 6-1. Stone rallied to take the final set 7-5.
At second doubles CV’s team of Ellie Blackwell and Holly Peer held on to beat Towanda’s team of Jennalee Coe and Dalila Vega 6-2, 3-6, 10-7.
The win clinched a team district berth for Towanda as they improved to 8-5 overall, while going 5-1 in the league.
For Snyder, the Alderfer sisters at first and second singles set the tone for the season.
“They’ve won almost every match,” she said. “When you only have six players to begin with, and you’re guaranteed two wins, you just need to win one more. We’ve been very fortunate this year to have two strong top players.”
The biggest development though was Vega coming to the team mid-season, which allowed Towanda to fill every spot on the court instead of forfeiting third singles. Ackley moved into that spot and gave the Knights a strong 1-2-3 punch.
“She’s done very well for us,” remarked Snyder.
The veteran coach has also liked what she’s seen from the newcomer Vega.
“Dalila has been a wonderful addition to the team,” said Snyder. “She’s not afraid of the ball, she’s aggressive. She’s kind of quiet, but when it comes to playing her parents said she’s be out here 24 hours a day if she could be. She just enjoys playing the game, and that’s half the battle.”
As for next season this raises the bar a little bit.
“We come back with Nadia and Emma in the top two, so I think I’ll have a strong top two,” explained Snyder. “Then Jayden (Conklin) will have to pick up at number three.”
They also return Blanchard, Coe, and Vega in doubles, and will need to find one more, but have the makings of another league champion.
“I think next year we’ll be strong as well.”
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PHOTOS BY CHRIS MANNING & PROVIDED
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