The Salisbury girls tennis team hasn’t had much success in the district singles and team tournaments in recent years.

But this year’s Lady Falcons have seemed to reverse that trend with their recent play in districts.

As a team, Salisbury defeated Blue Mountain in the District 11 Class 2A semifinals over the weekend, 4-1, led by victories from its three singles players and its No. 1 doubles tandem. A week earlier in the district singles tournament, No. 1 singles player Leandra Roelker won her first three matches before falling to eventual district runner-up Molly Ehrig of Bethlehem Catholic in the semifinals.

“I was a little unused to her style,” Roelker said. “She didn’t have any standout weapons, but her consistency was unparalleled. I had to adapt to that, as most girls I had played during the season attacked or didn’t play out long points.”

That was the first time the two players faced off on the court.

As a team, it’s the furthest any Salisbury team has advanced in quite some time. Roelker picked up where she left off after a successful run in the individual tournament, defeating Blue Mountain’s top player Imani Mika in straight sets (6-2, 6-2). Claudia Crouthamel ground out a tough two-set victory against Mercy Fisher at No. 2 (7-5, 6-3), while her sister Lil Crouthamel breezed to a win against Anna Gumarer (6-1, 6-2).

In doubles play, No. 1 tandem of Anna Bishop and Vivian Rogers earned a 6-1, 6-1 victory over Taylor Haupt and Peightyn Schwartz.

“I’m proud of the way my teammates and I played,” Roelker said. “Compared to past years, it’s been a huge leap for all of us. We have turned this sport, which is extremely individual, into as much of a team as it could get. Everyone worked together for this.”

Roelker and the Lady Falcons, who finished the regular season at 13-5, will get their chance at redemption against Bethlehem Catholic in the next round. It will be a tough task in defeating the unbeaten No. 1 seeded Golden Hawks (17-0) on Tuesday afternoon, but Salisbury is up for the challenge to keep its magical season alive. Results were not available at time of press.

“It should be an interesting match,” Roelker said. “We can beat Becahi, but we’re going to have to do it by outsmarting them. A lot of strategy and setting up points. We’ve always been the underdogs so this isn’t new, and we’ve had upsets before too. This is going to be another upset.”

Roelker will likely face Becahi’s district singles champ Brenna Magliochetti, who defeated her teammate Ehrig in the championship match last week. A week after winning her first three district matches relatively easily, against Bangor’s Bailey Andreeko (6-3, 6-1), Jim Thorpe’s Brittany Marzen (6-1, 6-1) and Mike of Blue Mountain (6-1, 6-1), Roelker is excited to see how she stacks up against the district’s top player.

“Everyone expected me to win, so naturally it was disappointing that I lost,” Roelker said. “But Molly took everything I threw at her and gave it right back. Of all the matches to lose, I’m glad it was this one because I was able to lose to a player who truly earned the win.”

Both Crouthamels also played in the district singles tournament. Claudia came up short against Ehrig as well in the first round, while Lil fell to Moravian Academy’s Skyler Hammond in the same round.

The winner of Tuesday’s match between Salisbury and Bethlehem Catholic will play the winner of No. 2 Moravian Academy and No. 3 Allentown Central Catholic.

“Whenever Claudia and I would talk about our senior year, we knew that was the year to be,” Roelker said. “And the team has really achieved so much more than we even thought possible. It was by far our most successful year of my four years in high school, both for myself and for the team as a whole. To be able to be a part of the Salisbury ladies’ tennis team this year was an honor.”