Continuing to hover near the top of the OHSL Liberty division standings, the Marcellus girls tennis team had another strong week of performances against its neighbors and other league foes.
None proved more exciting than last Thursday’s match against Manlius-Pebble Hill, where the Mustangs were one game from a team defeat, but were able to edge the Trojans 4-3.
Already, doubles points were earned in straight sets by the teams of Kaitlyn Kemp-Megan Mitchell, Sophia Shaw-Maddie Vetsch and Bella Clarke-Casey Conklin, but MPH earned the other doubles point.
Also, the Trojans had two singles points in the books when Morgan Walsh fell behind Ava Benedict, only to claim a second-set tie-breaker and rally to beat Benedict 3-6, 7-6, 6-4 to earn that clinching point.
Back in last Tuesday’s 6-1 win over Jordan-Elbridge, the Mustangs had the doubles teams of Kemp- Walsh, Shaw- Vetsch, Mitchell-Elaina Mahoney and Clarke-Isabella Demeis all win in straight sets.
The Eagles did earn a singles point when Anisa Bort outlasted Kathleen DeMarle 6-7, 6-2, 10-7, but Marcellus countered with Danielle Copp beating Meghan Whalen 6-3, 7-6 and Marsh handling Wendy Carter 6-1, 6-2.
A day earlier, J-E’s improvement was on display in a 5-2 victory over Pulaski, with the doubles teams of Delaney Dunham-Megan Whalen, Katelyn Precourt-Gabby Skotinski and Skylar Crysler-Ireland Hill each winning in straight sets.
Also claiming two of the four singles matches, the Eagles saw Maddie Green defeat Isabella Rios-Lewis 6-0, 6-2, while Bort worked past Chyanna LaCelle 6-0, 6-2.
After the Marcellus match, J-E won again by a 5-2 margin on Thursday, this time over Phoenix. The Eagles swept all four of the doubles matches, and a singles point was gained by Carter as she rallied past Mia Graham 5-7, 6-0, 6-1.
West Genesee started its week by blanking Syracuse East 7-0, Angelina Allen preserving the shutout with a 5-7, 6-1, 7-5 singles win over Rosealeenna George. Olivia Grome beat Emma Banuski 7-5, 15-13 as each of the four doubles matches was won in straight sets.
A far tougher match loomed on Thursday, WG facing Liverpool, but a singles sweep helped the Wildcats roll past the Warriors 5-2.
In a third-set tie-breaker, Angelina Llanos rallied past Angelica Underwood 4-6, 6-3, 7-6, while Allen got a 6-3, 6-1 win over Sheridan Bryerton and Katie Viau routed Julia Schewe 6-1, 6-1.
Though Liverpool claimed a pair of doubles points, WG still had Kara Chawgo and Aislinn Dow defeat Megan Polhamus and Kaia Wallingford 6-0, 6-4, while Madelyn Chuff and Isabelle Wells won, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, over Lea Prusinowski and Sarah Watkins.
It was an impressive effort from Skaneateles in last Wednesday’s match against Westhill, the Lakers blanking the Warriors 7-0.
Kenna Ellis rallied in first singles for a 1-6, 6-4, 6-3 win over Grace Lesselroth as Isabella Kroon handled Sophie Frost 6-3, 6-1 and Lily Miller routed Katie Hagrman 6-0, 6-0.
Sofia Capozza and Sophia Soderberg led the Skaneateles doubles charge, beating Mikayla Carroll and Madison Thomas 6-2, 7-5. Ella Danforth and Emma Miller rolled past Sophie Langdon and Bridget Thornton 6-1, 6-0.
Also, Meg Benedict and Olivia Walker topping Delaney Carroll and Hannah Johnston 6-3, 6-3, while Rachel Hackler and Kelsey Rutledge had a 6-4, 6-2 win over Isabel Dickinson-Cominolli and Mia Doss.
Before this, Skaneateles converted a 5-2 victory over Manlius-Pebble Hill last Monday, with lineup balance that included Kroon, in singles, edging Genevieve Morrow 7-5, 7-5 as Lily Miller beat Ava Benedict 6-1, 6-4.
Danforth and Emma Miller routed Amatees Fazeli and Caroline Mezzalingua 6-1, 6-0, with the teams of Benedict-Walker and Hackler- Rutledge also winning in two sets.
Then Skaneateles shut out Bishop Grimes 7-0 on Friday, saving the perfect mark with a pair of tough singles matches. Ellis outlasted Katie Knittel 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 in first singles, with Lily Miller also going to three sets to beat Sarah Falgiatano 6-3, 5-7, 6-3.
Westhill lost last Monday to Cazenovia in another 5-2 decision, seeing Lesselroth beat Nova Berger 6-4, 6-3 and Frost top Baylee Pierce 6-0, 6-4, but dropping all of the doubles matches as Hagrman was two games from a singles sweep, but took a 4-6 7-5, 10-6 defeat to the Lakers’ Julia Knutsen.
