KUTZTOWN, Pa. – The Lock Haven University women's tennis team (8-5, 3-4 PSAC East) closed the 2022-23 regular season with a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division match at Kutztown University (8-10, 3-4 PSAC East) today, and the host Golden Bears edged out the Bald Eagles, 4-3 in an all-around exciting contest.
With today's result in hand, Lock Haven finished the season at 8-5 overall, the Bald Eagles best record since the program's return in the fall of 2019. The eight wins are the most in a single season since Lock Haven won nine matches during an undefeated (9-0) season in 1983. Lock Haven was also 4-1 at home.
Maddy Reeves (Montoursville, Pa./Montoursville) and
Mia Shuler (Williamsport, Pa./Williamsport) posted victories for Lock Haven and No. 1 and 2 singles, respectively, and the Bald Eagles earned the team-point after going 2-1 in doubles, but Kutztown won the match behind four total points singles play.
At No. 1 singles, Reeves downed Ava Lewis 3-6, 6-2, 10-4 in an exciting match.
Shuler topped Sarah Lazarchak 6-3, 6-3.
Reeves and Shuler teamed up to win 6-2 at No. 2 doubles, and
Mary Kathryn Hillman (Williamsport, Pa./Williamsport) and
Christy McLean (Jim Thorpe, Pa./Jim Thorpe) posted a victory at No. 3 doubles.
During the fall, Lock Haven went an impressive 4-1 in dual action. The Bald Eagles recorded victories over Penn State Altoona, Lycoming, Susquehanna, and Penn College.
The spring portion of the 2022-23 season opened a new era for Lock Haven after Pete Wert was named the Bald Eagles' new head coach on January 19. During the Spring, under Coach Wert's leadership, LHU went 4-4 with PSAC East wins over Shepherd, East Stroudsburg, Shippensburg, along with a win over PSAC West foe Clarion.
It was announced on August 3, 2018 that women's tennis would officially return as a varsity sport at The Haven. On September 15, 2019, the Bald Eagles celebrated their return with a home match versus Lycoming. It marked the first home varsity women's tennis match since October 3, 1992. Historically, LHU has had success on the courts. The Bald Eagles went undefeated during the 1973 and that aforementioned 1983 season, and have crowned seven individual conference champions.
