Bella Scappaticci made the most of a two-day break because of weather and the sisters doubles team of Amanda and Sarah McCormick came through with the deciding point Friday when Wyoming Area knocked off higher-seeded Valley View, 3-2, in the first round of the District 2 Class 2A girls tennis team tournament.
Wyoming Area barely qualified as the last team in the 11-team district field, making it by meeting the requirement of going at least .500 with a 7-7 record.
Valley View came in 12-4 and seeded sixth.
“That was a big win that we never imagined, but the girls have been coming together really well,” Wyoming Area coach Bill Roberts said in a telephone interview.
The match began Wednesday on Valley View’s three courts, but was suspended because of rain with the completion delayed until Friday.
When play resumed, Brianna Pizzano completed her number-one singles victory, Scappaticci came back looking like a different player to rally at second singles and the McCormicks won in a second doubles match that had not even gotten started on the first day.
Pizzano was up 4-0 at the interruption and defeated Faith Kendricks, 6-1, 6-0.
Scappaticci had lost the first set, but made a complete turnaround Friday to post a 2-6, 6-1, 6-1 win over Gianna Snell.
“She was overhitting on Wednesday,” Roberts said. “She just wasn’t herself. She was overhitting the ball. She was missing serves.
“ … We talked to her, went over stuff with her and she came back Friday much more calm and determined that this was not going to be her last match.”
Valley View won third singles and first doubles to force a 2-2 tie with second doubles still playing.
Amanda and Sarah McCormick defeated Serena Davis-Calli Bossick, 6-4, 7-6. They won the second-set tiebreaker, 7-0, to improve to 7-6 in doubles play during their first season of tennis.
“They played the best match they played all year,” Roberts said. “ … It was an exciting match.
“The way tennis should be.”
DISTRICT 2 TOURNAMENT
Wyoming Area and third-seeded Holy Redeemer are working on a site and time to get in their quarterfinal match Sunday or Monday in order to see which advances to the semifinals and finals, which are scheduled for Kirby Park Tuesday.
If the team tournament stays on schedule, the singles tournament is planned for Thursday and Friday at Kirby Park.
Wyoming Area’s Brianna Pizzano, who won Class 2A singles titles as a freshman and sophomore and finished second last year, has won 72 career matches, including winning her last 25 WVC matches.
Pizzano is 15-0 this season, losing just 12 games in 30 sets. She had 12 straight 6-0, 6-0 victories before losing one game in the district team tournament opener.
The most successful girls tennis player in school history is ranked 10th in Pennsylvania and 83rd in the Mid-Atlantic Region in her age group.
Singles champions are not eligible for the doubles tournament. Pizzano made her first district doubles appearance last year and finished second with Bella Scappaticci.
Scappaticci is in just her third year in the sport. She is 21-6 in singles over the past two seasons.
INDIVIDUAL GOLF
Pittston Area’s Nick Scavo shot a 94 Monday at Fox Hill Country Club to finish 31st out of 32 players in Class 3A boys at the District 2 championships.
Scavo beat one player and was one shot behind four other players.
The top four advanced to the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association East Regional by shooting 72 or better.
