Wissahickon back in final, advances to states
For Montgomery Media
The Trojans know the pathK They’ve been there beforeK And, they know the pitfalls to watch for along the wayK
Once again, Wissahickon’s tennis team has successfully found its way to the District 1 Class AAA championship matchK
Three years ago, the Trojans captured the district titleK Two years ago, West Chester Henderson claimed the top spotK Last year, West Chester Henderson knocked off Wisshahickon in the district championship matchK
kow, the Trojans are headed back to the district title match, but their opponents will not be Henderson’s WarriorsK Conestoga eliminated Henderson in this yHDU’s TuDUWHUfinDOs EuW wDs unable to produce a repeat performance against WissaKLFNRn Ln 7uHsGDy’s sHPLfinalsK
The Trojans won the semifinDO PDWFK 4-1 wLWK DnRWKHU dominant showing on their home courtK Wissahickon now will face Harriton in the championship match at Downingtown West High on ThursdayK Harriton advanced to the title showdown with a 3-1 win over Unionville in 7uHsGDy’s RWKHU sHPLfinDO.
Wissahickon’s Maureen Devlin pointed the way for her team when she posted a S-0, S-1 win over ConesWRJD’s LDuUHn BDnnHU Ln fiUsW singlesK
“I think I came out and played really strong,” said Devlin, a juniorK “I tried to set a good tone for the teamK”
With Devlin setting the tone for her team all season, the Trojans have compiled a 19-0 record heading into the GLsWULFW finDO.
“I was attacking most of WKH fiUsW sKRWs WRGDy,” sDLG Devlin, who is one of the premier players in the districtK “She (Banner) likes to hit it up, so I was enjoying just coming in off themK
“My serve was on today so that felt really goodK And, my forehand was onK She was hitting her backhand well so I had to keep trying to put it to her forehandK”
“It was a tough match — but it was funK I knew she was a good player,” Banner, a Pioneers junior, saidK “I played her sister (Anne Marie Devlin, who now plays for StK goseph’s University) before and she was good tooK
“Today, I was staying in the point and working hardK I think I was hitting well, but she’s a very strong playerK She hits really hardK”
In second singles, Maureen Devlin’s younger sister Katherine Devlin won by default over Conestoga’s Ashley Lyon, who was sickK
The third singles match went to Wissahickon’s Christie CesariniK The Trojans’ talented sophomore defeated ’Stoga’s Lipika Gadila S-1, S-3K
“I think I came out really strong and I was right on with my shots,” said CesariniK “Then, she was startLnJ WR finG Py wHDNnHssHs. , adapted to it and just tried to keep it in playK My serve was GHfinLWHOy LPSURYHG DnG WKDW was a lot of helpK
“In the second set, I started trying to go for too PuFK DnG EHLnJ RYHUFRnfidentK Then, I just regrouped and tried to do what I did in WKH fiUsW sHW.”
When Cesarini walked off the court with the win over Gadila, it gave her team a 3-0 lead and secured the match victory for the TrojansK Then, the Pioneers and the Trojans split the doubles matchesK
,n fiUsW GRuEOHs, WLssDhickon’s Danielle Mustin and Kathleen Fuh had to work hard to defeat Conestoga’s team of Lauren Ge and Kaylee vanK The Pioneers’ duo won the opening set S-4 and then Mustin and Fuh took the second and third sets by identical S-4 scoresK
The Pioneers avoided being swept when Kaja Michel and Lindsey Taafe teamed up for a S-S, 8-S (tiebreaker) victory over Wissahickon’s Stephanie gin and Darcy HornK
“Overall, I thought all the girls played well,” said Wissahickon coach Mary bllen DevlinK “All the matches were hard-foughtK The doubles matches were very competitiveK”