Sophomore Clemence Balzano, left, teamed with senior Mizuki Shionaya to represent Rye Neck at the New York State tennis championships held at Latham, NY October 31-November 2.
Sophomore Clemence Balzano, left, teamed with senior Mizuki Shionaya to represent Rye Neck at the New York State tennis championships held at Latham, NY October 31-November 2. They got there by beating North Rockland’s top-seeded pair 6-7, 6-3, 6-2 a week earlier at Sectionals. In the first round, the Rye Neck duo defeated the Parrish sisters from St Francis Prep 6-3, 7-5, coming back from 5-1 down to win the last six games of the match.
“I didn’t realize what we were doing,” Shionoya said afterwards. “I was concentrating so hard on each individual point.” They breezed through the second round 6-3, 6-2 before losing a tough three-setter in the quarters to eventual State finalists, Laina Campos and Vanessa Ciano from Ursuline. “They had an amazing run and I am so proud of them,” said their coach, Mark Canno.
