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KINGSTON — Before the district doubles tournament, Stephanie Mazurek and Lily Nowak were two pretty strong singles players who had never been partners before.
They enjoyed the foray into doubles play so much, they intend to do it again and again.
Hazleton Area’s young guns out-shot and out-hit their opponents all the way to the District 2 Class 3A girls doubles semifinals, as second-seeded Mazurek and Nowak used a blistering performance to produce a 6-1, 6-2 victory over Delaware Valley’s McKenna Quinn and Lara May in the quarterfinals that only left them wanting more.
“All the way to states,” Mazurek grinned.
Hazleton Area’s deadly duo will get a chance to complete that goal Wednesday, when Mazurek and Nowak meet the third-seeded Abington Heights team of Sondra Lionetti and Lauren Carrolle in Tuesday’s second round – when the semifinals start at 1 p.m. at Kirby Park.
The third-seeded Wyoming Seminary team of Jacqui Meuser and Megan Obeid will be there, too, playing in the Class 2A semifinals.
They put away No. 6 seed Angela Malinovitch and Charlotte Maria of Holy Redeemer, 6-2, 6-1 in the Class 2A quarterfinals. That was the toughest match of the day for Meuser and Obeid, who surrendered just one game while cruising through the first two rounds.
They’ll face No. 2 seed Mira Patel and Tatiana Klacko of Scranton Prep in the Class 3A semis.
The Class 3A and Class 2A championship matches will follow the semifinals, and Hazleton Area coach Amber Corrado believes her two top singles players paired together for the first time in doubles play has an excellent shot to make it through Wednesday – and beyond.
“I do,” Corrado said. “I think we’re really going to win it all. They’re awesome players, they work well together, they’re my number one and two singles players. They really have nice shots, angles and they’re really aggressive players.”
They may only be getting started.
Mazurek, a sophomore and the Cougars’ top singles player, reached the District 2 singles semifinals last week before falling in a tooth-and-nail battle with Williamsport’s Amanda Southard – who teamed with Isabe Bauer to reach the other Class 3A semifinal.
Compared to her partner, Mazurek’s already an old hand in her second high school season. Nowak, a freshman, played the second singles spot for a Hazleton Area team that won the Wyoming Valley Conference and competed in her first district singles tournament last week.
And although they’d spent this season playing side-by-side in singles competition, they never made it to the same side of the court for doubles play.
Until Tuesday.
“(Monday) was the first time we actually played a set together,” Nowak said.
That caused a few early rough spots for the pair – although that wasn’t evident by the score in their first high school match as a team – a 6-1, 6-2 victory over Crestwood’s Emily Shiplett and Morgan Novosel in the second round of district doubles.
“In the beginning, it took us a little while to get warmed up,” Mazurek said. “We’ve played doubles before. We really haven’t played a whole lot of doubles. And we’ve never played together.”
It didn’t take long for them to mesh, though.
With strong set-ups and splendid serves, Mazurek and Nowak mixed in a steady return game to surrender just three games in both of their matches, holding command with a 5-1 lead in the second set of both.
“I was expecting it to go well,” Mazurek said. “After practice (Monday), I felt pretty confident we were really getting to know how we were playing. We’re both hard hitters. We’re pretty consistent.”
Meuser and Obeid came in playing at the top of their game.
They erased Honesdale’s Anna Christiansen and Kayla Rembish, 6-0, 6-0 in the second round, then glided by Emily Heltzel and Kaitlyn Landau of Dallas, 6-1, 6-0 in the third round of Class 2A play.
Mazurek and Nowak weren’t quite as dominant in Class 3A – which played one less round of districts than Class 2A on opening day because of a significantly lower number of players in the field at that level. But the Hazleton Area pair proved just as successful while beating both of their opponents in straight sets without being pressed in either match.
“I just saw a few things out there, to be honest,” Corrado said. “They really need to stay on their feet against this better competition coming up. They really need to move and work well with each other.”
District 2 Doubles Results
Class 3A
First Round
Sara Swartz/Jessica Borget (Pittston Area) def. Megan Musso/Stephanie Lepka (Scranton) 4-6, 6-2, 6-1; Jessica Wenner/Sofia Losen (Hazleton Area) def. Bryden Peters/Madisen Jastremski (Valley West) 6-1, 6-0; Kathleen Kinley/Kelly Hoffman (Williamsport) def. Laura Thompson/Helia Hosseinpour (Valley West) 6-1, 6-0; Emily Shiplett/Morgan Novosel (Crestwood) def. Kira Meager/Deanna Richards (Coughlin) 6-0, 6-2.
Second Round
No. 1 Amanda Southard/Isabe Bauer (Williamsport) def. Swartz/Borget (Pittston Area) 6-0, 6-2; No. 8 Kristi Pearage/Diana Rodriguez (Coughlin) def. Gabby Slucki/Raegan Distasio (Crestwood) 6-2, 6-2; No. 5 Brigid Washburn/Irene Gendelman (Wallenpaupack) def. Sabrina Schlenker/Katie Cooney (Delaware Valley) 6-1, 6-1; No. 4 Catherine Pusateri/Carolyn Hickman (Abington Heights) def. Jessica Wenner/Sofia Losen (Hazleton Area) 6-0, 6-0; No. 3 Sondra Lionetti/Lauren Carroll (Abington Heights) def. Kathleen Kinley/Kelly Hoffman (Williamsport) 6-2, 6-0; No. 6 Zoe Cykossky/Kristen Denniston (Wallenpaupack) def. MacKenzie Conors/Taryn Whitman (Pittston Area) 6-1, 6-1; No. 7 McKenna Quinn/Lara May (Delaware Valley) def. vs. Mary Huffman/Deana Mahdavi (Scranton) 6-4, 6-4; No. 2 Stephanie Mazurek/Lily Nowak (Hazleton Area) def. Emily Shiplett/Morgan Novosel (Crestwood) 6-1, 6-2.
Quarterfinals
No. 1 Amanda Southard/Isabe Bauer (Williamsport) def. No. 8 Kristi Pearage/Diana Rodriguez 6-0, 7-5; No. 5 Brigid Washburn/Irene Gendelman (Wallenpaupack) def. No. 4 Catherine Pusateri/Carolyn Hickman (Abington Heights) 6-2, 3-6, 6-3; No. 3 Sondra Lionetti/Lauren Carroll (Abington Heights) def. No. 6 Zoe Cykossky/Kristen Denniston (Wallanpaupack) 6-2, 6-1; No. 2 Stephanie Mazurek/Lily Nowak (Hazleton Area) def. No. 7 McKenna Quinn/Lara May (Delaware Valley) 6-1, 6-2.
Wednesday’s Semifinals
(1 p.m., at Kirby Park)
No. 1 Amanda Southard/Isabe Bauer (Williamsport) vs. No. 5 Brigid Washburn/Irene Gendelman (Wallenpaupack)
No. 3 Sondra Lionetti/Lauren Carrolle (Abington Heights) vs. No. 2 Stephanie Mazurek/Lily Nowak (Hazleton Area)
Class 2A
First Round
Cate Matyas/Jackie Braunstein (MMI) def. Jessica Valencia/Josmarlyn Rivas (GAR) 7-6 (7-3), 6-4; Allison Aronica/Nina MacClean (Dunmore) def. Jamie Greenfield/Kaitlyn Kimes (Riverside) 6-0, 6-4; Haley Puterbaugh/Brianna Grey (Tunkhannock) def. Hannah Bonk/Allison Stallard (Dallas) 6-1, 6-4; Sam Pritzlaff/Tylea Alpaugh (Western Wayne) def. Rebecca Warholic/Kayla Mosier (Elk Lake) 6-3, 6-2; Abby Muth/Alex Kester (Holy Redeemer) def. Rachel Johnson/Mercadeze Conklin (West Scranton) 6-4, 6-1; Emily Heltzel/Caitlyn Landau (Dallas) def. Lauren Richmond/Maryann Chapin (Hanover) 6-3, 6-3; Anna Chiaro/Alyssa Bielinski (Dunmore) def. Darci Warner/Olivia Riscavage (Elk Lake) 6-4, 2-6, 7-5; Christina Brannon/Bridget Boginski (Holy Cross) def. Heidi Betz/Madison MacKnosky (Holy Cross) 6-2, 6-4; Emily Cheskiewicz/Lea Getz (Wyoming Area) def. Mia Capabugo/Sam Labrosky (Riverside) 6-3, 6-1; Brooke Panek/Annika Treitz (North Pocono) def. Olivia Tricano/Selena Tregaskis (North Pocono) 6-1, 6-1.
Second Round
No. 1 Mansi Malhotra/Gabi Jakubek (Scranton Prep) def. Cate Matyas/Jackie Braunstein (MMI) 6-0, 6-1; Corrie Franchak/Jenna Snell (Valley View) def. Karli Martin/Mander Karly (Honesdale) 6-7 (3-7), 7-5, 6-2; Allie Arnold/Louise Thompson (Montrose) def. Allison Aronica/Nina MacClean (Dunmore) 7-6 (7-2), 6-1; Haley Puterbaugh/Brianna Grey (Tunkhannock) def. No. 8 Samantha Kropa/Heidi Betz (Mid Valley) 6-1, 2-6, 6-3; No. 5 Kathleen Fricke/Kella Pacifico (Holy Cross) def. Sam Pritzlaff/Tylea Alpaugh (Western Wayne) 6-1, 6-0; Mary Kramer/Kayla Davis (Berwick) def. Victoria Hoffman/Victoria Downey (Hanover Area) 2-6, 6-1, 7-6 (7-4); Lauren Perry/Anna Thomas (Wyoming Area) def. Abbey Capin/Meghan Sarada (Wyoming Sem) 6-3, 6-2; No. 4 Sarah Tofilska/Sarah Sposito (North Pocono) def. Abby Muth/Alex Kester (Holy Redeemer) 6-0, 6-2; No. 3 Jacqui Meuser/Megan Obeid (Wyoming Sem) def. Emily Heltzel/Caitlyn Landau (Dallas) 6-1, 6-0; Anna Christiansen/Kayla Rembish (Honesdale) def. Gabi Popko/Alexis Zalutko (Berwick) 6-4, 6-7 (3-7), 6-4; Anna Chiaro/Alyssa Bielinski (Dunmore) def. Giselle Huertero/Tatiana Reed (GAR) 6-0, 6-1; No. 6 Angela Malinovitch/Charlotte Maria (Holy Redeemer) def. Christina Brannon/Bridget Boginski (Holy Cross) 6-2, 6-4; No. 7 Jessica Smith/Libby Pinto (MMI) def. Emily Cheskiewicz/Lea Getz (Wyoming Area) 6-2, 6-3; Gabriella Barber/Holly Young (Valley View) def. Kaitlyn Markovitz/Emily Chesner (Tunkhannock) 7-5, 6-3; Victoria Hinds/Bethany Evans (Montrose) def. Ashley Dunning/Heather Schmidt (West Scranton) 6-0, 6-3; No. 2 Mira Patel/Tatiana Klacko (Scranton Prep) def. Brooke Panek/Annika Treitz (North Pocono) 6-2, 6-2.
Third Round
No. 1 Mansi Malhotra/Gabi Jakubek (Scranton Prep) def. Corrie Franchak/Jenna Snell (Valley View) 6-0, 6-1; Haley Puterbaugh/Brianna Grey (Tunkhannock) def. Allie Arnold/Louise Thompson (Montrose) 7-5, 2-6, 6-3; Kathleen Fricke/Kella Pacifico (Holy Cross) def. Mary Kramer/Kayla Davis (Berwick) 6-0, 6-0; No. 4 Sarah Tofilska/Sarah Sposito (North Pocono) def. Lauren Perry/Anna Thomas (Wyoming Area) 6-3, 3-6, 6-4; No. 3 Jacqui Meuser/Megan Obeid (Wyoming Sem) def. Anna Christiansen/Kayla Rembish (Honesdale) 6-0, 6-0; No. 6 Angela Malinovitch/Charlotte Maria (Holy Redeemer) def. Anna Chiaro/Alyssa Bielinski (Dunmore) 3-6, 6-0, 6-4; Gabriella Barber/Holly Young (Valley View) def. No. 7 Jessica Smith/Libby Pinto (MMI) 6-1, 6-4; No. 2 Mira Patel/Tatiana Klacko (Scranton Prep) def. Victoria Hinds/Bethany Evans (Montrose) 7-5, 6-1.
Quarterfinals
No. 1 Mansi Malhotra/Gabi Jakubek (Scranton Prep) def. Haley Puterbaugh/Brianna Grey (Tunkhannock) 6-0, 6-0; No. 4 Sarah Tofilska/Sarah Sposito (North Pocono) def. Kathleen Fricke/Kella Pacifico (Holy Cross) 6-3, 3-6, 6-4; No. 3 Jacqui Meuser/Megan Obeid (Wyoming Seminary) def. No. 6 Angela Malinovitch/Charlotte Maria (Holy Redeemer) 6-2, 6-1; No. 2 Mira Patel/Tatiana Klacko (Scranton Prep) def. Gabriella Barber/Holly Young (Valley View) 6-2, 7-5.
Wednesday’s Semifinals
(1 p.m. at Kirby Park)
No. 1 Mansi Malhotra/Gabi Jakubek (Scranton Prep) vs No. 4 Sarah Tofilska/Sarah Sposito (North Pocono)
No. 3 Jacqui Meuser/Megan Obeid (Wyoming Seminary) vs. No. 2 Mira Patel/Tatiana Klacko (Scranton Prep)
