EMIGSVILLE -- Susquehannock girls' tennis standout Katie Wagner was so close to achieving her goal of making the state tournament a year ago.

Agonizingly close to be honest.

All that stood between a spot in the PIAA Class AAA singles draw was Central York's Emily Kuhn.

Kuhn, who lost to Wagner in the York-Adams League Class AAA finals, exacted some revenge by defeating her rival in three sets that day.

Wagner hasn't forgotten about that, although she hasn't allowed it to consume her.

The Warriors' top player got a small bit of payback when her team and the Panthers met up in a Division I showdown Thursday. The reigning league singles champion downed Kuhn, 6-1, 6-4, in their battle at No. 1 singles, earning her team a point that helped Susquehannock to a 5-2 team victory.

Wagner's club improved to 3-0 in the division, which keeps them just a half game behind first-place South Western (4-0). The Mustangs beat Spring Grove, 4-3, on Thursday. Central fell to 2-1.

"I beat her in the county finals, but then I lost to her in (the third-place match) at districts," Wagner said. "I just wanted to win again."

The visitors nearly clinched the victory before doubles play began. In addition to Wagner's victory, the Warriors also received triumphs from No. 2 Adriana Bullaj (6-2, 6-3) and No. 3 Usha Baublitz (6-0, 6-2).

Susquehannock's No. 5 player, Chelsey Simmers, had Central's Felicia Roppelt on the ropes, with two match points while leading 5-3 in the third set. Roppelt, however, refused to wilt and fended them off en route to a 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (3) victory.

"She's a warrior," Central coach Brad Andrews said of Roppelt. "She's going to play a lot of three-set matches. She just doesn't give up."

That outcome forced the No.1 doubles match between Wagner and Bullaj against Kuhn and Taylor Strausbaugh to have some real meaning. Unfortunately for Andrews, the Warrior duo was all business in an impressive 6-2, 6-0 victory.

Wagner had never really played a lot with Bullaj in the past, but the left-handed Bullaj has adjusted and become a great partner in short time.

"We had to adjust and learn to play (with each other)," Wagner said. "We've played before, but never in matches. Her being left-handed actually helps because I have my stronger side and she has her stronger side. We're stronger as a team, because we don't have to deal with our weaker sides."

Andrews was impressed with what he saw from the Warriors Thursday. His team is one of the only ones that have played both Susquehannock, the 2011 Division II champion, as well as York Catholic, the favorite to take that crown this year. He sees a lot of similarities between the two.

"They are actually pretty similar," he said. "We lost 6-1 to (Catholic), but we lost a couple of three-set matches. We were right in there and even with (today) we were too. They're both similar teams. Both are strong at No. 1."

The victory not only pushes Susquehannock closer to claiming another division title, it also gets the Warriors that much nearer to a coveted District 3-AAA team berth. The Warriors bested Central last year in a play-in contest for a district entry, but were quickly dispatched in the first round. This time Coach Marianne Michels' team is hungry for more.

"It was new to us," she said. "We weren't as well prepared as we will hopefully be this year. They had a taste of districts as a team and they want to go back there and have a better outcome this time."

OTHER GIRLS' TENNIS

SOUTH WESTERN 4, SPRING GROVE 3: At Hanover, Mackenzie Bortner and Madison Bortner each won in singles and combined to win No. 1 doubles to lead the Mustangs to victory. Rachel Fabrick also won in singles for South Western. Mickaela Taylor and Miranda Eckard won singles matches for the Rockets, while Taylor teamed with Amanda Craver to win No. 2 doubles.

RED LION 5, DOVER 2: At Red Lion, the home team swept the doubles matches to earn the win. McKenzie Krout, Mickie Martin and Katelyn Witmer won in singles and doubles to lead the Lions. Dover got singles points from Bri Crone and Faith Jackson.

YORK CATHOLIC 7, BERMUDIAN SPRINGS 0: At Springettsbury Park, Emily Javitt and Sarah Koury won in singles and combined to win No. 1 doubles to lead the Irish. Anna Spoden, Maddie Kepner and Kathryn Thomas also earned singles wins.

KENNARD-DALE 7, LIT TLESTOWN 0: At Fawn Grove, the Rams received straight-set victories from Jess Wernig, Alyssa Miller, Cecilia Oliveros, Brianna Bennett and Evan Boone to help secure the York-Adams League Division II victory.

DALLASTOWN 7, NEW OXFORD 0: At Dallastown, Emily Westenberger, Danielle Lucabaugh, Amanda Shapiro and Artika Saharan each won in singles and doubles to lead the Wildcats. Angela Friedrich also won a singles match.

-- Reach Ryan Vander sloot at sports@yorkdis patch.com.