Giving itself an important boost of confidence, the Cazenovia girls tennis team claimed all of the doubles matches in last Monday’s clash with Westhill, keying a 5-2 victory over the Warriors.
Clare Douglas and Alex Galle were dominant for the Lakers, handling Sophia Langdon and Bridget Thornton 6-0, 6-1. Nina Royer and Emma Schwartz had a 6-1, 6-1 win over Delaney and Mikayla Carroll, with Mae Sayre and Emma Thornton defeating Kaley Richmond and Madison Thomas by those same scores.
And it took three sets, but Regan Dauenhauer and Katie Pavelchak worked past Isabel Dickinson-Cominolli and Jillian Eckert 6-2, 4-6, 6-0 to complete the doubles sweep.
In singles, Nova Berger lost, 6-4, 6-3, to Grace Lesselroth, with Baylee Pierce falling to Sophia Frost 6-0, 6-4. But just two games from defeat, Julia Knutsen rallied in third singles to beat Katie Hagrman 4-6, 7-5, 10-6.
So began a crowded stretch of four matches in as many days, Cazenovia going to Phoenix last Tuesday and, mixing up its lineup, prevailing again as it handled the Firebirds 6-1.
Though Royer, moving to singles, ran into Brielle DeRoberts and lost, 6-2, 6-1, Pierce beat Mia Graham 6-1, 6-0 and, in a third-set tie-breaker, Knutsen came back to beat Katelyn Carbonaro 4-6, 7-5, 7-6.
In doubles, Berger and Galle did not drop a game, nor did Thornton, paired with Pavelchak. Dauenhauer and Sayre handled Amanda Justian and Morgan Kosakowski 6-0, 6-2, while Douglas and Schwartz won, 6-3, 6-3, over Ella Heckert and Mackenzie VanAustin.
Then the Lakers faced Bishop Grimes on Wednesday, and though it didn’t win a point in a point in a contested singles matches, Cazenovia swept doubles and claimed a 5-2 decision over the Cobras.
Galle and Royer got it going with a 6-1, 6-2 win over Sarah Falgiatano and Sofia Ziankoski. Berger and Schwartz handled Lenora Cedrone and Jenny Morabito 6-0, 6-1, with Sayre and Thornton beating Brina Deppoliti and Nadia Fenu 6-1, 6-2. Pavelchak, paired with Grace Degelth, beat Olivia Coppola and Maggie Eallonardo 6-1, 6-1.
The big match was Thursday’s showdown between Cazenovia and Christian Brothers Academy, and the Lakers could only pluck a single point from the Brothers, taking a 6-1 defeat.
Knutsen earned that point, rallying in third singles past Lily Geneocco 2-6, 6-4, 6-4, but Berger and Pierce each lost in straight sets. Galle and Royer paired up to face CBA’s star duo of Gieselle Vlassis and Grace DelPino, and the Lakers’ duo took a 6-3, 6-4 defeat.
While all this was going on, Chittenango returned to action last Wednesday against Mexico and dominated that match with the Tigers, earning a 7-0 shutout.
Anna Rooney’s 6-0, 6-0 romp over Caitlyn Hackett began a singles sweep where Brooke DiFlorio handled Juliana Smith 6-1, 6-0 and Delaney Dawkins won over Paige Masrouri 6-1, 6-1.
It went to three sets in first doubles, but the Bears’ Riley Ellis and Sarah Lanphear weathered it to prevail over Juliana Hernandez and Mia Morris 6-2, 1-6, 6-1. Also, Brianna Crystal and Shannon Pitt got past Alana Rice and Grace Schipper 6-1, 3-6, 6-3.
Abbie Austin and Allison Soulier got past Alivia Kelsey and Tori Stores 6-2, 6-1, with Leah DeMauro and Jessica Hallock getting past Amita Druce and Shelby Shumacher 6-1, 6-4.
