York Suburban sends three to YAIAA tennis tournament's quarterfinals round

York Catholic's Isaac Higgins played at No. 4 for a deep and talented Irish boys' tennis team this spring.

After Friday's opening two rounds in the YAIAA Class AA singles tournament, Higgins stands in the final eight of the 32-player field.

Higgins eliminated fifth-seeded Haoza Phutaemnin of Bermudian Springs (7-5, 5-7, 6-0) in the first round of play at Red Lion High School. He then followed that with a straight-set win over Biglerville's Nate Newberry to advance to today's quarterfinals round.

Related: Strong showing for South Western at AAA tournament.

"I just played more consistent (in the third set of the match with Phutaemnin) and picked up my serve game," said Higgins, who was knocked out in the first round of the YAIAA tournament last year. "I just pulled the rest of my game together."

The senior will meet defending Class AA singles champion Elliot Diehl of York Suburban today, who won both of his matches in straight sets on Friday.

"I think it will be fun playing Elliot," Higgins said.

York Suburban managed to get Diehl, third-seeded Michael Peck and Daniel Lee into the quarterfinals, while Higgins is joined by York Catholic teammate Michael Andrews, the second seed in the tourney, and Nick Bartkowiak, the No. 7 seed. Rounding out the quarterfinalists are senior Devin Glispy of Susquehannock and Brett Gill of Littlestown.

"Michael, Elliot and Daniel are playing well," said York Suburban coach Mark O'Reilly. "We'll see how it goes. There are a lot of tough players left in the draw. You are getting to the point where you're up against other kids who have also played very well. Andrews is playing well. Nick Bartkowiak is playing very well. But my guys are playing well too. We'll see."

Glispy advanced Friday by eliminating fifth-seed Scott Bartkowiak of York Catholic by a 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 score in the first round, then defeating Susquehannock teammate Joha Yancheski in straight sets in the second round.

"That (match with Scott Bartkowiak) was easily the hardest I've tried all season," Glispy said. "He was the No. 2 guy for York Catholic (when Susquehannock played the Irish) and I played No. 3, so we hadn't met up. He was really good at drop shots and I had to sprint for everything. There was not a second where I was not tired."

Peck, a senior who played his teammate Diehl for last season's championship, beat both Rob McGough of Delone Catholic and Cam Bosserman of Hanover in straight sets to set up today's meeting with Gill. Peck and Diehl are on opposite sides of the bracket, making a rematch of last year's final a possibility.

"I won and that's all that really matters in a tournament like this," Peck said. "I hope I play better (today). The wind messed with me a bit (Friday), so I didn't play as well as I had hoped. When I play well, I feel like my game is definitely where it needs to be. I just have to get in that right mental state and stay there. Anything can happen, but I think I'll be fine."

Andrews is in the same half of the bracket as Peck. The Irish senior won in straight sets against both Paul Rath of Delone Catholic in the first round and Tate Myers of Bermudian Springs in the second round. He gets York Suburban's Lee in the quarters.

"I just have to stay focused," Andrews said. "I'm looking forward to (today)."

YAIAA Tournament

Singles

Class AA

Results from the YAIAA tennis tournament's first and second rounds at Red Lion, as well as matchups for Saturday's quarterfinals at South Western.

First Round

Elliot Diehl, YS, def. Dylan Himes, Big, 6-0, 6-1

Tyr Abendschoen, YS, def. Jacob Kondrasuk, YC, 6-2, 6-1

Isaac Higgins, YC, def. Haoza Phutaemnin, BeS, 7-5, 5-7, 6-0

Nate Newberry, Big, def. Josh Stroup, BeS, 6-2, 6-1

Devin Glispy, Sus, def. Scott Bartkowiak, YC, 3-6, 6-3, 6-3

Joha Yancheski, Sus, def. Aidan Mikula, WY, 6-4, 6-3

Nick Bartkowiak, YC, def. Aaron Gervasio, Sus, 6-2, 6-1

Nick Durski, DC, def. Cody Magana, H,, 6-1, 6-3

Luke Wilkins, BeS, def. Zach Kiick, Get, 6-2, 6-3

Brett Gill, Lt, def. Bailey Hoak, BeS, 6-3, 6-3

Cam Bosserman, H, def. Brendan Paules, Sus, 6-4, 6-3

Michael Peck, YS, def. Rob McGough, DC, 6-2, 6-1

Daniel Lee, YS, def. Kraig Freeman, Big, 6-4, 6-0

Ben Strine, YS, def. Anthony Iannuzzi, Sus, 6-2, 6-2

Tate Myers, BS, def. Mario Statuto, DC, 6-1, 6-1

Michael Andrews, YC, def. Paul Rath, DC, 6-0, 6-0.

Second Round

Diehl, YS, def. Abendschoen, YS, 6-0, 6-1

Higgins, YC, def. Newberry, Big, 6-2, 6-3

Glispy, Sus, def. Yancheski, Sus, 6-1, 6-2

N. Bartkowiak, YC, def. Durski, DC, 6-4, 6-1

Gill, Lt, def. Wilkins, BeS, 6-0, 7-6 (7-3)

Peck, YS, def. Bosserman, H, 6-1, 6-2

Lee, YS, def. Strine, YS, 6-2, 1-6, 6-4

Andrews, YC, def. Myers, BeS, 6-1, 6-3.

Quarterfinals Pairings

Diehl, YS, vs. Higgins, YC

Glispy, Sus, vs. N. Bartkowiak, YC

Gill, Lt, vs. Peck, YS

Lee, YS, vs. Andrews, YC