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05/27/2018 12:00 AMFor the second year in a row, there is no debate about who has the best girls’ tennis team in the Southern Connecticut Conference. It’s the undefeated Hand Tigers.
The defending league champion Tigers entered the SCC Tournament on the heels of their second consecutive unbeaten regular season with a record of 17-0. As the top seed in the conference draw, Hand swept No. 8 seed Foran 7-0 in the quarterfinal round on May 21 and then earned a 5-2 semifinal triumph against No. 4 Lauralton Hall at Yale University the following day. That led to Hand squaring off against longtime rival and No. 3 seed Amity in the championship clash at Yale University on May 23. Hand notched a convincing 5-2 victory to give the Tigers their second straight SCC title, their fifth since 2012, and their eighth overall, while pushing their perfect record to 20-0.
“Winning SCCs caps off a really great season we had this year. We finished this and last season undefeated, so I always believed we had what it took to win SCCs again,” said senior co-captain Nikki Goldfeder, whose team improved to 21-0 by winning its Class L State Tournament opener. “I am so proud to be a part of this team. Being a co-captain has been great, especially because everyone on the team is extremely hard-working and dedicated.”
Sophomore Sam Riordan was not only named to the All-SCC Team, she was also named the SCC Tournament’s Most Outstanding Player. Riordan, her sister Lindsay Riordan, a freshman who also made the All-SCC Team; sophomore Annie Barrett, and senior Ellie Weinstein helped Hand sweep the singles matches against Amity. The All-Conference duo of senior Lee Jiaen and sophomore Anna Lang recorded the Tigers’ fifth and final victory on the day at No. 1 doubles.
“I am so proud of everyone. We really couldn’t have done it without the support from our team, parents, and [Head Coach Kitty Palmer],” senior captain Nell Karas said. “We have come such a long way since the start of the season and have had a lot of fun along the way. It’s been an amazing season, and the bond our team has made is something I will miss next year.”
Sam Riordan took on Sarah Bullers of Amity (12-7) at No. 1 singles and secured a 6-3, 6-3 victory. At No. 2 singles, Lindsay Riordan battled Anisha Jain and pitched a 6-0, 6-0 shutout. Barrett won her bout against Eesha Acharya by the final score of 6-1, 6-0. In the No. 4 match, Weinstein faced Rhea Dey and prevailed 6-1, 6-1 to complete a 12-0 run for the Tigers’ singles lineup in the SCC tourney.
“The girls felt pressure, because it’s tough getting this far, and they knew Amity was a quality team, but they knew [Hand has] a good team,” Coach Palmer said. “Playing three straight days can be hard, too, especially for the singles players, but we earned 12 wins in singles for this tournament. They came through. The girls fought hard. I’m proud of all of them.”
On the doubles court, Lang and Jiaen faced Sydney Pitter and Annika Minotti and clinched a 6-1, 6-2 victory. Goldfeder and Karas took on Hannah Hipona and Catalina Betancur in the No. 2 duel. Hand’s captains dropped the opening set 6-2, but then bounced right back by grinding out a 7-6 (7-4) win to force a decisive third set, which the Spartans took 10-2. For No. 3 doubles, the Tigers’ senior tandem of Jennifer Burris and Clare Nelson went against Gabby McGovern and Chloe Gherlone. Burris and Nelson opened with a 6-3 victory and then lost the next two sets by scores of 6-3 and 6-2 for Amity’s second win of the afternoon. Still, it wasn’t enough to overtake the Tigers for the title.
In the semifinal round, Hand received singles victories from Sam Riordan (6-0, 6-0), Lindsay Riordan (6-0, 6-0), Barrett (6-0, 6-0), and Weinstein (6-0, 6-1), along with a 6-2, 6-0 win from Lang and Jiaen.
Coach Palmer said that the connection among the Tigers’ athletes fuels their fire to perform their best. It’s a mindset that has carried Hand to a pair of SCC titles. Now, the Tigers are aiming to claim a second straight state crown as they compete in the Class L State Tournament. Hand is seeded No. 2 and swept No. 18 Ridgefield 7-0 in the first round on May 26. They will host No. 7 seed Guilford (18-4) in a quarterfinal on Tuesday, May 29 at 3 p.m. The semis take place the next day and the final is at 3 p.m. on Thursday, May 3.
“These are competitive girls who don’t want to lose. They are determined to get on the court and win,” said Palmer. “They have their off days, but they still pull it together to win. Our sophomores haven’t seen a defeat yet. The girls are very determined to win for the team and then themselves. Now in states, we will really see how things shake out against the state’s best.”
In addition to the competitors in the final, the Tigers’ roster also includes junior Catherine Aranow, sophomore Chloe Manion, and freshmen Eileen Chen and Paige Van Ostenbridge.