By Steve Sherman
Sports Editor

Despite the departure of 2009 graduate Lauren Rossi, who led Pennsbury in singles play for the last three seasons, the Lady Falcons are holding their own in the Suburban One League (SOL) National Conference.

Senior Tara Krauss has replaced Rossi in the No. 1 slot, and even with some problems with her right shoulder, Krauss is winning most of her matches.

That is until last Thursday when she went up against Council Rock South junior Julia Pollak, the 2007 SOL National Conference singles champion who plays in the offseason on the USTA circuit.

Pollak outpaced Krauss in straight sets, 6-0, 6-4, making the Falcon tennis player just the latest victim in her quest to recapture the SOL National Conference singles title. Thus far, Pollak has lost just one--to Abington--of her varsity matches. Last year, Julia made it as far as the SOL National Conference semifinals and never got a chance to compete in the finale.

“She’s a fine player,” stated CR South tennis coach Ray Dugan of Pollak. “She has really good ground strokes and she’s a smart player.

“We’re excited to see what she does in this tournament.”

SOL National Conference tournament singles play begins at 11 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 1 at Council Rock North.

Even with the injury at the No. 1 singles slot, Pennsbury proved it can still win in the SOL, posting its second consecutive victory over a National Conference rival Sept. 24 at home.

Pennsbury freshman Katie Reilly--playing at No. 2 singles--defeated South senior Alli Dossick in straight sets, 6-1, 6-2. Junior Emily Nelson kept it going for the Falcons by besting Hawks sophomore Rebecca Langbein in straight sets, 6-2, 6-1.

Pennsbury also won all four of their doubles matches in straight sets, outpacing Rock South, 6-1, on the afternoon.

In the No. 1 doubles slot, Falcon sophomores Kathleen Raftery and Marisa Millenson won their match against Hawks captain Julia Gomes and Ashley Cove, 6-3, 6-3.

Pennsbury freshman Nicole Raftery and sophomore Lauren Zawacki won at second doubles, getting the best of Rachel Ghoens and Marissa Raven, 6-0, 6-1.

Lauren Simoniz and Alice Li beat Jess Ghoens and Aaron Feigen, 6-1, 6-3 and Sara Liebrech and Rebecca Fishman defeated Shelly Frankel and Nicole Liebman, 7-5, 6-2.

Pennsbury was strong in doubles play last year with 2009 graduates Paige Deiner and Danielle Raftery making it all the way to the district quarters and Corrine Hanson helping the Falcons past Lower Merion in the district team tournament.

Early this season, their doubles teams proved that hadn’t changed much in a Sept. 3 matchup against non-league rival Central Bucks South. While the Titans won in all three of their singles matches, Pennsbury won all four doubles to take the match, 4-3.

In addition to their league win over the Hawks, the Falcons have blanked three of their National Conference foes in 7-0 triumphs over Bensalem, Neshaminy and William Tennent. On the other side of the coin, Pennsbury has dropped 7-0 battles with league rival Abington and non-league Wissahickon, who seems to be beating everybody this season.

The Falcons also dropped a non-league match at Cheltenham, falling to the Panthers, 4-3. Reilly and Nelson were winners at No. 2 and 3 singles, respectively. Zawacki and Nicole Raftery recorded Pennsbury’s only win in doubles play that day. Simoniz and Li kept it close, falling, 6-4, 6-4.

With the win, the Falcons push their record to 6-4, overall, 4-1 in the SOL National Conference. South, meanwhile falls to 1-3 with its lone league win a 6-1 triumph over Neshaminy.