Liberty High School's girls tennis team is off to a strong start for the 2014 season, having defeated Quakertown, Allen, Easton, Stroudsburg, and Dieruff as of Press deadlines.

Madelyn Conrad, who has returned to number two singles for the Hurricanes this year, said, "Our hard work's paid off. Last year was one of our rebuilding years."

During that rebuilding year, number three singles returner, Emily Moss, became known for her three set matches.

"I don't want to do that again. At the end of those [matches], we were just hitting it back and forth," she said.

Moss has been working on her backhand and her serve, hoping to keep her sets to a minimum.

Conrad's serve has also improved, among other things.

"Overall, I just think I improved. My net play, my ground strokes, and using more strategy," she said.

Samantha Peterson, who has returned to number one singles for the Hurricanes, was also a silver medalist in the conference tournament last year. The Liberty junior defeated Freedom's Flannery Johnston to move on to the conference final against Jenna Peng from Parkland.

"Beating [Flannery] was a turning point for me, that I was a good player. I gained a lot of confidence. I know a lot of girls from Freedom graduated, so I think we could beat them [this year]," Peterson said.

In the off season, Peterson worked to become a more diverse player.

"I'm trying to change up my shots, working on my all-around game," she said.

Also last week, Bethlehem Catholic defeated Freedom, 4-3.

Johnston defeated Brooke Adams, 6-3, 6-0 at number one singles, and Freedom's Elizabeth McCarthy defeated Tess Shuler, 6-4, 6-4 at number two singles. At number three singles, Bethlehem Catholic's Molly Ehrig defeated Kaitlyn Swint, 6-3, 6-4.

Although Johnston and McCarthy teamed up to defeat Adams and Shuler at number one doubles, the Hawks won the rest of the doubles matches for the Becahi victory.

Samantha Macaluso and Maureen Mazza defeated Becky Packo and Madison McTier, 4-6, 7-5, 6-3, at number two doubles; Torie Evert and Allie Pacmisano defeated Gabriella Greenhoward and Rachel Loh, 6-3, 6-1, at number three doubles; and Bailee Deshler and Julie Glemser defeated Jenna Souto and Alyssa Kapcsos, 6-0, 6-2, at number four doubles.