What a difference a few weeks of preparation can make.
Two weeks after losing 6-4, 6-2 to Colonial Heights’ Jonathan Hartson and Yasir Qazi in the 3A Colonial Rivers Conference 25 doubles final, York’s Ethan and Walter Buck avenged that loss with a victory over the same two opponents in the championship match of Wednesday’s 3A East Region doubles tournament.
The victory was as hard-fought as they come, as the Bucks overcame a 4-6 loss in the opening set to win the next two 7-5, 6-4.
The Buck brothers’ biggest victory of the day, though, came earlier in the afternoon after beating a duo from Armstrong in three sets — 6-3, 4-7, 6-3 — to clinch a spot in next week’s 3A state doubles tournament. The championship match was icing on the cake, and a small measure of revenge.
York’s girls top-seeded doubles tandem had equal success Wednesday.
Teresa Alvarez and Gabi Tersigni followed up their Conference 25 doubles title by capturing the 3A East Region crown after defeating Loudoun Valley’s Maddie Coffman and Abbie Baird 6-4, 6-4 in the final. They secured a spot in next week’s state Final Four, along with their boys’ teammates, following a 6-2, 6-1 victory in the semifinal round over James Monroe’s Lucy Castles and Morgan King.
The state doubles semifinals and final will be held June 13 at Liberty University’s courts in Lynchburg.
