Parkland (3A), Moravian Academy (2A) win gold at District 11 championships
Down a set and with the team score tied at 2-apiece in the District 11 Class 3A finals, Parkland’s No. 1 doubles team of Anshika Gupta and Kaila Miles knew they needed to make quick adjustments.
While a consistent style is what Gupta-Miles have relied on all season, they were forced to reassess the situation when Stroudsburg’s Alison Willis and Katie Hosko were just as steady and even won a first set tiebreaker.
What the Trojan duo came up with was a focus on putting the ball away at the net by creating more angles from the baseline.
Gupta-Miles executed their game plan beautifully, as they won a second-set tiebreaker and didn’t surrender a game in the final set of what turned out to be a three-hour match.
More importantly, GuptaMiles clinched the district championship for Parkland, a 3-2 triumph over the Mountaineers on Thursday at Lehigh University.
“I knew when we won the second set, it was for a reason and we had to close it out in the third,” Gupta said. “We were physically tired but we wanted to win so much, so we pushed through. The other team became shaky in the third set and we knew that was our chance. It all came down to us and we came through; this feels great.”
For Miles, the only senior on Parkland, it was a chance at performing under pressure; just how she likes it.
“I’ve always thrived under pressure and I was excited we were the deciding factor. We responded well and channeled positive energy,” Miles said. “We are a very young team with great underclassmen. This has been a goal for us and I’m thrilled to be a part of this in my senior year.”
No. 3 singles player Gigi Leonzi was off the court first for Parkland when she knocked off Rachel Traub, 6-1, 6-0. Leonzi had a nice district singles tournament last week and carried that solid play into the team final.
“I’m pretty confident, as were we all. We knew this is all us; we can do this,” Leonzi said. “It’s never going to be easy to win a district championship but it all worked out in the end. We all wanted it so bad.”
Stroudsburg responded when three-time district singles champion Paraskevi Briegel knocked off Erin Joo, 6-0, 6-2 in a rematch of last week’s singles final. Shortly after Briegel’s victory, the Trojans added a second point when Leah Zolotareva beat Emma Schomberg, 6-2, 6-2.
The Mountaineers showed their depth and were able to tie the score when the No. 2 doubles team of Lana Marsh-Sophia Loomis upended Sophia Petrocelli-Sophie Elijovich, 6-3, 6-2.
Over an hour later, GuptaMiles clinched the win for the Trojans.
“[Gupta-Miles] are a point we have the luxury of counting on each match,” Parkland coach Mike Hingston said. “Their only loss this year was to Moravian Academy, so we know what we’re getting from them. Miles is the only senior on the team and she was on the court to help clinch the match. She’s a great captain and role model for the rest of the kids.”
The Trojans advance to the PIAA tournament, where they open up with the fourth-place finisher out of an always strong District 1. The first-round match will be played at noon on Tuesday at Winning Touch Tennis in Allentown.
CLASS 2A
While the 3A final provided lengthy drama, the 2A final was a bit more decisive.
Moravian Academy captured its third-straight title after a quick 3-0 victory over Bethlehem Catholic.
The Lions completed their run through Colonial League and district tournament play with an unbeaten record of 15-0.
“We had six starters back this season and they all worked hard in the offseason. They understand what it takes to win at this level,” Moravian Academy coach Rick Brown said. “We have great, positive kids who have tight friendships and good chemistry. I wouldn’t want to coach anywhere else.”
Francesca Bartolacci dominated her encounter with Taylor Adams at No. 2 singles with a 6-1, 6-0 win, handing the Lions a quick lead.
No. 3 player Jamilie Atiyeh has been rock solid for the Lions all year, and throughout her career. That effort was once again on display against the Golden Hawks as the senior defeated Isabella Bautista, 6-3, 6-3 to give Moravian Academy a big 2-0 lead.
“I think this is the strongest we’ve been in all my time playing here,” Atiyeh said. “I had some nerves in the beginning of the match, but once I got comfortable I felt confident. I stayed in points and tried to get short angles. I know my teammates rely on my point to win, so I had to come through.”
Rounding out the scoring for the Lions was the No. 2 doubles team of Sophia Brands and Grace Wright.
After battling through a tough first set tiebreaker, the senior pair accelerated through the second set, 6-0, to clinch the district crown for their team.
“I think we came in a little too confident and that was our downfall at first,” Brands said. “Once we got our heads together and gained confidence we were fine. It was definitely a mood booster seeing our teammates doing well and hearing them cheer us on.”
Wright said she hopes the team will carry the momentum from a district title into the state tournament.
“We had a lot of energy and screaming on our side in the second set. We’ve been doubles partners for three years and the goal was to win another district title,” said Wright.
The Lions will play District 2 champion Wyoming Seminary in the PIAA first round on Tuesday at a site and time to be determined.
DISTRICT 11 TEAM TOURNAMENT 2A FINALS Moravian Academy 3, Bethlehem Catholic 0
Singles: Isabella Bartolacci vs. Cara Magliochetti vs 4-6, 2-1, DNF; Francesca Bartolacci over Taylor Adams, 6-1, 6-0; Jamilie Atiyeh over Isabella Bautista, 6-3, 6-3.
Doubles: Yan Yu-Kanchan Gupta vs. Patty Superka-Grace Hartman, 4-6, 6-2, 1-2, DNF; Sophia Brands-Grace Wright over Maddie Lennert-Ava Burkart, 7-6 (1), 6-0.
3A FINALS Parkland 3 Stroudsburg 2
Singles: Paraskevi Briegel (S) over Erin Joo, 6-0, 6-2; Leah Zolotareva (P) over Emma Schomberg, 6-2, 6-2; Gigi Leonzi (P) over Rachel Traub, 6-1, 6-0.
Doubles: Anshika Gupta-Kaila Miles (P) over Alison Willis-Katie Hosko, 6-7, 7-6 (4), 6-0; Lana Marsh-Sophia Loomis (S) over Sophia Petrocelli-Sophie Elijovich, 6-3, 6-2.