Make it 267 consecutive wins for the Fayetteville-Manlius girls tennis team, who had to pass some of its biggest tests in 2009 right at the end.
In a Columbus Day showdown with unbeaten Baldwinsville, the Hornets had some scary moments, but still beat the Bees 5-2.
They were supposed to play each other Oct. 12, but heavy rains forced a postponement. By the time they did meet 10 days later, B’ville had a 7-0 record and the firm belief that, maybe, it just might end the epic F-M streak.
But the Hornets got some quick verdicts to take early command. In fourth doubles, Ellen Choi and Meghan Muraco zoomed past Katy Andersen and Kalli Alberici 6-1, 6-0, while Allison Vizgaitis Katie Muller swept their first doubles match over Nicole Leader and Rachel Taylor 6-1, 6-3.
Elsewhere, in third singles Carly Romano survived a second-set tie-breaker to beat Amari Pollard 6-2, 7-6 (7-4). Shelby Smith and Rhiannon Iorio also had a tough second set, but still earned a 6-2, 7-5 win over Catherine Corsito and Melinda Davis.
Already with enough points for victory, all the F-M players hung around as Sienna Susko rallied against Becky Guzzo in first singles. After losing the first set 6-4, Susko won the second set 6-3, and overcame a 5-2 deficit in the third set, plus a match point, to win the third-set tie-breaker 7-4.
Maria Mintskovsky, in second singles, lost to Calli Nizamis 6-4, 6-2. Also in a third-set tie-breaker, Lauren Schaefer and Olivia Calancie fell to Lauren Mautz and Kelly Falconer 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7-2).
If form holds in the upcoming Section III Class A team tournament, F-M and B’ville, the top two seeds, could meet again in the championship round next week at Utica Parkway Courts.
