Though it gave a complete effort, the Cazenovia girls tennis team fell a couple of victories short of the Section III Class B championship.
In Monday’s semifinal against Oneida, the Lakers got two quick points, but saw a pair of doubles matches turn the other way, leading to a 5-2 defeat to the Indians.
Elizabeth Palmer, the newly-minted Section III Division III singles champion, continued her torrid run, cruising to a 6-2, 6-0 victory over Emily Fitzgerald. Sally Langan and Edie Connor gained a quick doubles point, too, when they beat Kasia Kinsella and Samantha Lusher 6-3, 6-2.
Twice, though, Cazenovia had leads in doubles matches it could not hold. Kelly Furlong, teaming with Sienna Lints, won the first set 6-2 over Connie Froass and Jenna Didio, but lost the second set 6-0 and dropped a tight third set 6-4.
Just the same, Rebecca Marsch and Claire Chanatry were victorious 6-4 in their match, but lost the next two sets to Claire Mancarella and Jenna Russ 6-1 and 6-2.
In the other two matches, Grace Gara played a strong second set in a 6-1, 7-5 defeat to Rachele Markle, while Taylor Mimms fell to Jillian Brodock 6-2, 6-2. Ava Gurney and Natalie Roszel lost to Lexi Skibitski and Emilee Lanz 6-2, 6-0.
As Oneida goes on to face Jamesville-DeWitt in the Class B team final, Cazenovia regroups as Palmer would lead several singles and doubles players into the state tournament qualifier, which starts Saturday at Syracuse University’s SkyTop courts.
