Parkland, Moravian Academy fall in PIAA team first round
Two power programs in District 11 tennis saw their season come to an end in the first round of the state team tournament on Tuesday afternoon.
Parkland put forth a strong effort against defending state champion SpringFord at Winning Touch Tennis in Allentown, but fell 4-1. The Rams hail from one of the deepest areas in Pennsylvania high school tennis, District One, where they finished fourth this season.
In 2A, Wyoming Seminary stunned defending PIAA Class 2A runner-up Moravian Academy.
The District 2 champion used a solid balance throughout its lineup, eventually clinching the match with a nipping close three-set win at No. 1 doubles.
It was the second time in three years the Lions met the Blue Knights in the first round of the state championships, winning their most previous match in 2019.
District 11 has enjoyed great success at the state level in girls tennis. Alongside Moravian Academy’s runner-up performance a year ago, Southern Lehigh were was a semifinalist in 3A.
This season marks the first time that District 11 did not advance a team past the first round of the event since 2018.
Class 3A
The Trojans got off to a rocky start when top player Erin Joo was forced to forfeit. Mia Matriccino’s walkover win gave Spring-Ford an early lead.
The Rams doubles teams showed their prowess on the court as they easily dispatched their Trojan counterparts. The No. 1 team of Evelyn Mejia-Alexis Luo defeated Anshika Gupta-Kaila Miles — who clinched
Parkland’s district championship — 7-6, 6-0.
At No. 2 doubles, Lana Hang-Chole Moore knocked off Sophia Petrocelli-Sophie Elijovich, 6-1, 6-1.
The Rams tacked on a fourth point at No. 3 singles when Caitlyn Krause won a close match over Gigi Leonzi, 6-1, 6-4.
Leah Zolotareva won her match at No. 2 singles over Isabel Mejia, 7-5, 6-3 to prevent Spring-Ford from a shutout.
“Our girls played their hearts out today, but Spring-Ford is just too good,” Parkland coach Mike Hingston said. “We had great team chemistry all season and our accomplishments speak for themselves. I’m very proud of the group and will always be grateful for everything they’ve done for Parkland tennis.”
The Trojans end their season with a record of 20-2.
Class 2A
After a fantastic run in the 2020 PIAA team tournament, Moravian Academy was dealt a tough draw this time around.
Wyoming Seminary’s top player, Ilana Rosenthal, just a freshman, impressed by blanking former District 11 singles champion Isabella Bartolacci, 6-0, 6-0.
The Blue Knights then showed their singles depth with a strong win at No. 3 singles. Victoria Martinez dispatched a talented Jamilie Atiyeh, 6-2, 6-2 to give her team a second point.
The Lions battled back with a convincing win from Francesca Bartolacci at No. 2 singles. The sophomore defeated Ella Krypel, 6-2, 6-0.
The No. 2 doubles team of Sophia Brands-Grace Wright followed up with a straight-set win of their own, a 6-4, 6-3 decision over Maria Nolte-Victoria Smulowitz, which tied the team score at 2-apiece.
The match came down to the No. 1 doubles match between Wyoming Seminary’s Margaret Mihalick-Domenica Delayo and Moravian Academy’s Yan Yu-Kanchan Gupta.
After dropping the first set 6-2, the Lions stormed back to capture the second 6-4.
The Blue Knights buckled down to take a quick 5-1 lead in the third, but Yu-Gupta again came back, though it was not enough.
“I’m proud of the kids for what they did this year — won Colonials, won Districts, came up a little short today though,” Moravian Academy coach Rick Brown said. “It certainly wasn’t for a lack of effort; everyone worked hard. We fought the whole time, even when we were down 5-1 in the third set and came back to 5-4. It was a pleasure coaching all of these girls and I wouldn’t want to coach anyone else. I have a lot of respect for all of them; they’re all really good kids.”
The Lions close out another stellar season with a record of 15-1.