River Hawks Tennis One Step Closer to Playoffs After Defeating Connellsville

by Jake DeLuca

The Armstrong River Hawks varsity tennis team has been exceeding expectations all year, and the players have bought in to what Head Coaches Sue Ochs and Doug Flanders have been teaching - and it is paying off.

On Monday, the River Hawks hosted a section match against Connellsville as they found themselves in need of just two more section wins in as many games to make the playoffs.

Many of the River Hawks players are beginners with this being their first year, but Co-Head Coach Sue Ochs said they are ahead of expectations.

“Our number one Ashleigh Bowser has been steady all year, our number two Lauren Virostek – same thing, steady and they have been getting the team points all year. The big surprise has been at number three, Eva Crawford – for a first year player, I think she has only lost one or two matches all year so she’s been getting us points on number three singles. Doubles are coming together and getting stronger as well. When you are playing doubles, you have to learn how to play with that person and that takes time and that’s what is going on right now. They are starting to gel,” Ochs said.

The River Hawks were able to defeat Connellsville easily, sweeping the Falcons 5-0.

In singles Ashleigh Bowser won two straight sets 6-0 and 6-1; Lauren Virostek won two straight 6-0 and 6-3; and Eva Crawford won two straight 6-0 and 6-1.

The doubles teams were just as impressive, with Brooklyn Graham and Sylvia Hamilton winning two straight sets 6-2 and 6-3 while Paige Johns and Trista Bowser won by forfeit.

The River Hawks now find themselves one game away from clinching a playoff spot. Co-Head Coach Sue Ochs outlined what’s next for her team.

“Right now we stand at 4-4, and our final section game is Wednesday at home against Penn Trafford; if we beat Penn-Trafford, that will take us to 5-4 (in the section) and we would be the fourth team in the section to make the playoffs. Section play ends Wednesday and playoffs start next week. (Playoffs) are different this year, they have team playoffs before we go to section singles and section doubles, which are in the October. The team, singles, and doubles all help to qualify for state playoffs and that’s the ultimate goal.”

Since most of these girls are in their first year of competition, making the playoffs would be a great learning experience moving forward, and Ochs said that her partner in crime Co-Head Coach Doug Flanders has been pushing the message of making the playoffs all season.

“Coach Flanders has been saying that (making playoffs) all season, and I give him a lot of credit. He works really hard with these girls on off days and in the summer to get them ready. He’s always saying we can do this (make playoffs), he has seen the players buy in, and we aren’t losing anyone next season. The more you play the better you get, and the better you get the more confidence you gain. Tennis is a head game, so the more confident you are the better you are going to play,” Ochs said.

With a 4-4 section record, the River Hawks will look to clinch a playoff berth this Wednesday at home against the Penn-Trafford Warriors.