Girl’s Tennis preview
Local teams waiting for break in the weather Mother Nature hasn’t been very kind to the girls’ tennis schedule with matches in the first three days of the season washed out, including the first section matches scheduled on Tuesday.
“We haven’t been able to get any matches in yet,” said Southmoreland coach John Ciarimboli. “We hope to play our first match (Thursday) at Greensburg Central Catholic.”
The Lady Scots were to open the Section 1-AA campaign Tuesday with tradition foe Brownsville, a match Ciarimboli is disappointed his squad didn’t play.
“The girls always start with Brownsville. It’s a litmus paper test for us,” explained Ciarimboli. “We feel if we can beat Brownsville, we have a shot at the playoffs because it always seems it comes down to us, Brownsville and Mount Pleasant for the playoffs.
“We’re untried and untested.”
Ciarimboli has a lot of confidence in his singles players with returnees in Laura Shenck, senior captain Jill Hamill and Amanda Lede.
“It’s a very good group,” said Ciarimboli. “The have club experience and they’re solid at singles.
“The doubles teams are new. We have no set teams yet. There are at least six girls that are pretty equal. We like the doubles teams to play together.”
Not wanting to put the doubles teams on center stage, Ciarimboli will rely heavily on his singles players.
“We need three points on the front end. Jill and Amanda are very good and they’ll come through on a regular basis. Laura might have a tough time at No. 1. If she prevails, we’ll have an excellent chance. If she has problems, we’ll have problems as well.”
Numbers are on Ciarimboli’s side with 20 varsity and 20 junior varsity players.
“The program is doing well,” said Ciarimboli. “My goal is the same, making the playoffs. We’ve never had a losing season since I became coach. We have ambitious goals ahead of us.”
Brownsville coach Dan Lonigro was a little disappointed the Southmoreland match was called off because he uses it as a barometer as well. The Lady Falcons travel to Mount Pleasant, weather permitting, this afternoon for a key Section 1-AA match.
The Lady Falcons are solid at No.1 singles with junior Bethany Seelye and No. 2 with senior Kelly Davison. The third singles spot is open with Becky Barnhart and Nicole Kerestine fighting for the position.
Doubles is wide open with Kerestine possibly matching up with Sarah Mathianas at No. 1. Samantha Bochna has one of the two spots at No. 2 with Kalie Davis and Amanda Johnson in competition for her partner.
“It could change,” Lonigro said of his lineup. “It depends on who goes outside of practice. Staying healthy has a lot to do with the lineup.
“No. 3 singles is the pivotal match this year. I think the doubles are steady enough for a 3-2 win. Experience is there. They have to have the determination.”
Connellsville coach Don Campbell welcomed a large contingent with over 30 girls, and is hoping he can find the right combination to earn one of the two Section 5-AAA berths after missing the playoffs last year.
Senior Lauren Hartz and junior Megan Parsons are staples at singles for the Lady Falcons. Senior Miranda Hughes, junior Kayla Naugle, sophomore Amy Lucas and freshman Laura Husband are vying for the remaining position at singles as well as for both doubles teams.