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04/18/2016 12:00 AMHead Coach Erin Dayton and the Valley Regional girls’ tennis squad had a sensational week as they went 3-0 by defeating Shoreline Conference foes Westbrook, Cromwell, and Haddam-Killingworth to improve to 5-1 on the season.
Valley began the week with a 5-2 victory over nemesis Westbrook, which had won the last five meetings between the teams. The Warriors went 16-2 for the regular season during each of the previous two campaigns with all four losses coming at the hands of Westbrook. Valley also dropped a match to the Knights in states last season. In the clubs’ first meeting of the 2016 campaign, Valley got out to a tough start against Westbrook as No. 1 singles player Hannah Halsey lost, as did No. 2 competitor Maggie Klin. However, No. 3 Callie Riggio defeated Sara Farnoli in three sets, 5-7, 6-1, 6-1; while No. 4 Emma Hunt shut out Katie Xenelis 6-0, 6-0 to even the score.
The Warriors then claimed victory in all three doubles matches to get the 5-2 win. The No. 1 team of Maddy Ball and Ellie Flynn defeated Maddie Archer and Victoria Koplas 6-2, 6-2; the No. 2 squad of Amanda Joyce and Caitlin Farley won over Olivia Fabrizi and Marilyn Ulanowicz 6-0, 6-1; and the No. 3 tandem of Lindsey Lent and Jenna Farley beat Keysi Jara and Merry Farrell 6-1, 6-1.
“Everyone stepped up and it was nice to beat Westbrook after losing to them the last two years,” said Coach Dayton. “I think the girls took a lot of pride in winning this one. Hannah didn’t win, but I loved her effort against Casey Burns, who is one of the really good players around and our 3 and 4 came up big in singles and our doubles team swept them for the win.”
On April 13, Valley went on the road and defeated Cromwell 7-0. The Warriors went 4-0 in singles against the Panthers as Halsey had a solid match and won over Kira Bradley 6-2, 6-1 at the No. 1 spot; No. 2 Klin bested Cheyenne Salofia 6-2, 6-3; Riggio blanked Allison Bennett 6-0, 6-0 in the 3 singles match; and No. 4 Hunt prevailed against Jennifer Arling 6-3, 6-2.
“Emma Hunt really stepped up as she moved from doubles last year to singles and played great,” Dayton said. “The other girl came back tough in the second set and I appreciated her effort to play her hardest, hitting some hard shots to finish off the game, even though we had already won the match.”
Valley also swept all three of the doubles matches. The Warriors’ top team of team Ball and Flynn were victorious over Hannah Gamer and Jacque Culmone 7-6, 6-0; their No. 2 squad of Joyce and Caitlin Farley blanked Sophia Michaud and Curissa Bradley 6-0, 6-0; and the No. 3 pairing of Jenna Farley and Lindsey Lent defeated Alexis Murselli and Jess Faucette 6-2, 6-4 to complete the 7-0 score.
Valley then faced off with visiting Haddam-Killingworth on April 15 and recorded a 6-1 victory to complete its perfect week. In the No. 1 match, H-K’s Emily Beck defeated Halsey 6-0, 6-0 for the Warriors’ only loss on the day. In the next bout, Riggio took on the role of No. 2 and won big over Abby Schultz, 6-0, 6-2. No. 3 player Hunt worked hard to finish off Autumn Leavitt 6-2, 7-5 and No. 4 Caitlin Farley shut out Alivia Smith 6-0, 6-0 as Valley won three of the four singles matches.
The doubles teams for Valley swept the Cougars to cap off the win. Ball and Flynn defeated Jacie Hamilton and Nikki Clementel 6-1, 6-1 at No. 1; Joyce and Tori Adamczyk bested Abby Larkin and Shayna Pazsak 6-1, 6-1 for the No. 2 match; and the No. 3 team of Jenna Farley and Isabelle Hansen won against Hannah Stakiewicz and Amelia Goduti 6-0, 6-2.
“Callie Riggio is playing so well and effortlessly out on the court the JV team always comments on how easy she make the game look and I’m proud of the way she has moved up and accepted that challenge,” Coach Dayton said. “Isabelle Hansen was also playing in her first varsity match and won in doubles, which was a nice moment. I’m impressed by the shifting and adaptability of the team overall. We’ve only had our full team for three of the six matches this year. Players have been moving from singles to doubles and jumping up spots and they are all giving their best efforts.”
From the Sidelines
The 2016 Valley Regional girls’ tennis team’s roster consists of senior captains Hannah Halsey and Maggie Klin, along with fellow seniors Maddy Ball, Caitlin Farley, and Amanda Joyce; juniors Nayara Alvarado, Eryn Bosworth, Andrea Criollo, Jenna Farley, Charlotte Kelly, Lila Kozlik, Caitlin Lent, Lindsey Lent, Callie Riggio, and Celest Welch; sophomore, Isabelle Bowden, Margaret Breitenbach, Emily Brucker, Madelyn Evans, Ellen Flynn, Isabelle Hansen, Emma Hunt, Helen Porter, Saffron Riley, and Carly Urban; plus freshman Tori Adamczyk, Allie Champion, Francesca Pisanzio, and Maaren Quale.