<<RHS Girls’ Tennis>>
By Melanie Cane
After an opening loss to Mamaroneck, the Garnet Girls’ have been on a tear.
On September 12, they swept John Jay Cross River 7-0. Rye won all of their matches in two sets, except for the third doubles team of senior captains Claire Woodruff and Ainsley Shulz, who went deep into the dark to pull out a 10-2 super tiebreaker win.
Two days later, Rye beat Harrison 5-2.
Once again, Woodruff and Shulz, this time at second doubles, gutted out a super tiebreaker, winning 6-3, 4-6, 10-6. Junior Elena Nunez won 6-4, 7-5 at second singles. At third singles, Catharina Austahl won easily 6-0, 6-0. Woodruff and Lexi Francis won 6-1, 6-2 at third doubles, and Liz Peron and Courtney Lopp won at fourth doubles. First singles player Nikki Francis lost to Deanna Giambo, one of the top players in the Section. She is 3-2, having lost to the top player from Mamaroneck. Joci Stone and Steffi Rodilosso lost at first doubles.
On September 18, the Garnets had an awesome win — their sixth in a row — against Byram Hills. Down 3-1, after simultaneously losing second and third doubles in super tiebreakers, Garnet Catharina Ausfahl at third singles came back from being down a set to win her super tiebreaker. After that, Francis at first singles outlasted her opponent to win 7-5 in the second set. Tied at three, freshmen Liz Peron and Courtney Lopp at fourth doubles had to win. They lost the first set 6-1, then came back and won 6-2 and 10-7. Coach Campbell called it a “fantastic day.”
Coach Campbell said, “We’re good. All of the girls know how to play sound doubles, which gives us a deep lineup and has enabled me to give different girls an opportunity to compete. We have a nice mix of talented underclassmen and experienced veteran leadership. Best of all, the team is having a great time together.”
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