The District 11 Class 2A Girls Doubles Tournament started with some positives for Jim Thorpe’s pair of doubles teams.

But Christy McLean/Trista Gehris and Sophia Samoleski/Tara McLean’s opponents’ were able to quickly turn things around and hand the Olympians a pair of first round setbacks on Monday.

Both Jim Thorpe teams received tough draws as Christy McLean and Gehris drew No. 2 seeded Allentown Central Catholic’s Sabrina Yurconic and Meagan Niechwiadowicz - the defending District 11 champs.

Meanwhile, Samoleski and Tara McLean opened with No. 8 seed Grace Wright and Sophia Brands of Moravian Academy.

Christy McLean and Gehris were looking to extend their careers another day. But Yurconic and Niechwiadowicz regrouped after Jim Thorpe’s top doubles team gave them a true battle in the opening set.

“Christy and Trista started out really great,” said Thorpe coach Norb Lienhard. “They lost that first set 6-4, and they were right there.”

But the Vikettes’ tandem showed the form that allowed them to capture district gold a year ago, as they took charge early in the second set and went on to post a 6-4, 6-1 win.

“We had a chance to win the first set,” Lienhard said. “But I felt Central settled down in the second set. I think they were playing a little nervous and were making some mistakes early.

“But they started moving at the net, and that was hurting us. The one girl really took over the net as she was approaching it. Taking overhands out of the air and finishing points. She really took over.”

Tara McLean and Samoleski suffered a 6-1, 6-0 loss, but the first set was closer than the score indicated, according to Lienhard.

“The first game, Tara was serving well. She was hitting down the line and playing relaxed. For the first time ever going to districts, it didn’t look like she was nervous,” Lienhard said. “Sophia and she were hitting the ball real great. There were some long points. But the Moravian Academy girls were just too good for them. They didn’t make the mistakes.

“But I will tell you what, they started off great. I was happy with their performances. I thought they had some nice games.”

Despite the two losses, Lienhard found a number of positives.

“You’re in with the elite players when you’re in those top 16 teams, so I was really happy and proud of them,” he said. “They all had great records during the season, and that got them into this tournament.

“I was pleased with the whole season. Even today in our losses, they battled and they never gave up.”

CAREER ENDINGS

… JT seniors Gehris, Christy McLean and Sophia SamoleskI - who combined for 12 years of varsity experience between them - played the final high school matches of their careers. “It’s tough to watch them go as they all grew up into real nice players,” Lienhard said. “I could see them improving every year. This year, we had an 8-4 regular season record and qualified as the No. 6 seed in the team tournament. It was a nice way for them to end their careers. Their senior leadership meant a lot to the program.”

RETIREMENT

… After 25 years with the girls’ tennis program, and 27 years with the boys’ program, Lienhard has decided to retire from the coaching ranks. “I’m at peace with it,” Lienhard said about ending his quarter-century run in charge of the Olympian tennis program. “It took me awhile, but I’m at peace with it. I’m just really happy I had the chance to do something I love for as long as I did.”