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Connellsville, Lady Scots, Brownsville ready girls tennis section slates

By Jim Downey 6 min read

CONNELLSVILLE – The Sports Surface on Connellsville’s tennis courts and a steady, light rain mix like oil and water, but the Lady Falcons held their footing long enough Monday afternoon to begin the 2006 season with a 5-0 non-section win against Southmoreland. The rain made the acrylic surface slick for most of the match, but Connellsville made the most of its decidedly home court advantage as the Lady Scots spent the afternoon trying to get accustomed to the unique court.

Connellsville didn’t drop a set in the shutout with Southmoreland’s No. 3 singles player Lindsay Skovira the lone Lady Scot to win as many as five games in a set.

Laura Husband got the best of Southmoreland’s Lara Schenck at No. 1 singles, 6-2, 6-3. Megan Parsons, Connellsville’s No. 2 singles player, is recovering from a broken bone in her left hand, but the former No. 1 singles player toughed out a 6-1, 6-2 victory over Amanda Lebe.

The longest match of the day was at No. 3 singles as Connellsville’s Amy Lucas and Skovira matched groundstroke for groundstroke with Lucas finally prevailing, 7-5, 6-1.

The new No. 1 doubles team of Kayla Naugle and Emily Stout began with a 6-2, 6-2 win over Southmoreland’s duo of Gena Hart and Alicia Snyder. Kristina Herman and Megan Jacobs completed the sweep for the Lady Falcons by defeating Katie Pattone and Liz Kaylor at No. 2 doubles, 6-1, 6-0.

Connellsville coach Don Campbell wanted to win, but, more importantly, he wanted to see how his girls would handle competition as the Lady Falcons open action in a new section this afternoon.

“Southmoreland has been a good team the past two years. It’s good for our singles. How they play will tell me a lot on how we’ll do in singles,” explained Campbell.

Campbell has five returning letterwinners in the lineup, but a couple have moved around. Husband moves from No. 1 doubles to No. 1 singles, while Parsons moves down from No. 1 singles as her left hand mends.

“I don’t know how that will work out,” Campbell said of Parsons. “She plays a two-hand backhand, but she’s been working on a one-hand return.”

Lucas remains at No. 3 singles, a steady player who most likely won’t overpower the opposition but will keep the ball in play for long rallies. Naugle and Stout move from No. 2 doubles to the top spot while No. 2 doubles is a new pairing with Herman and Jacobs.

“I think we’re a little better balanced this year. I have a shot the whole way through (the lineup),” said Campbell.

The WPIAL downsized Class AAA from six to five sections this year, moving Connellsville and Hempfield into Section 1 along with Franklin Regional, Greensburg Salem, Indiana, Latrobe, Indiana, Latrobe, Norwin and Penn Trafford.

The Lady Falcons played most of those teams in the past, but as non-section or playoff opponents, not twice for a shot at the playoffs.

“It is a very tough section. Latrobe is one of the best teams in the state. There isn’t a day off (in the section schedule),” said Campbell. “The only advantage is three teams, instead of two, will make the playoffs.

“I think we have to be 9-5 or better. I’ll get a feel of where we are after the first two matches. My goal is to make the playoffs.”

The Lady Falcons jump right into this afternoon with a Section 1-AAA road match at Penn Trafford. They’ll take a break from section play with a non-section match with Brownsville, but jump right back in Thursday with a home match with Norwin.

Campbell, always upbeat and hopeful, likes the makeup of his squad as they look for another playoff berth. “The girls worked hard all summer and showing a lot of enthusiasm. They’re good kids,” lauded Campbell.

Southmoreland coach John Ciarimboli and his Lady Scots remain unchanged in Section 1-AA with Greensburg Central Catholic, Brownsville and Mount Pleasant. He has a veteran squad, though the lineup has changed a bit.

“We lost one girl to graduation. The girl (Lindsay Skovira) who moved to No. 3 singles has been doing a good job. (Amanda Lebe) moved from No. 3 to No. 2,” said Ciarimboli, who opens with Brownsville next week, but would rather have more matches against strong opponents strung together to benefit his girls, aggressive both on and off the court.

“I just want to stay close and be competitive with Connellsville. My philosophy is move your feet and play offense,” said Ciarimboli. “I’d like to have the tough matches in a row. They’re too strung out (through the season).”

The Lady Centurions are generally regarded as the team to beat, but Ciarimboli isn’t shying away from the challenge.

“They didn’t lose a point in the section last year. They beat us twice, but we made the playoffs and beat Keystone Oaks before we lost to the eventual state champion (Quaker Valley). I’m hoping to give Greensburg C.C. a run,” said Ciarimboli.

Brownsville coach Dan Lonigro offered a well-used coaching mantra as a caveat to his team’s outlook. “If we stay healthy, we’ll be okay. Bottom line, you have to get yourself in shape,” said Lonigro. “I know it will be Greensburg C.C. this year. The question is who will be second and third between Southmoreland, Mount Pleasant and Brownsville.

“If Greensburg C.C. stays healthy, there’s no way they can lose. They have solid, consistent girls. I don’t want to exclude Derry, they were much improved, but I think it comes down between the three teams for a spot in the playoffs. You never know.”

Bethany Seelye, the Lady Falcons No. 1 singles player, proved Lonigro to be a prophet when she was forced to retire in the second set to Chartiers-Houston’s Tyler Engel after she lost the first set 6-1 in a 4-1 non-section loss.

Becky Barnhart rallied to tie her match at No. 2 singles, but Kelsey Diesel won the third set, 6-4, to win the match. Kerestine staved off the shutout with a 6-1, 6-0 win at No. 3 singles.

Jerrica Cohn and Amy Weller beat the Lady Falcons’ Amber Fabian and Samantha Bochna in straight sets at No. 1 doubles, as did the Lady Bucs’ Cassey Hertz and Erica Bell at No. 2 doubles over Ferrell Jellots and Erin Ryan, but not before the Lady Falcons took the second set to a tiebreaker.

Seelye, Barnhart and Kerestine are all seniors. “Samantha Bochna is a junior and she’s a talented player who played and improved over the summer. Amanda Smith was visiting her sister in Alaska, but she comes back Wednesday. That’s a good five,” said Lonigro. “We’ll be young at No. 2 doubles.”

The veteran Brownsville coach has a good sign for the future with a half-dozen freshmen learning the game. He’s also high on Fabian, a junior, and sophomores Jellots and Kaylyn Curcio. “I feel very confident with our experience, but I’m concerned about the endurance, stamina part of it. The team that trains the best comes out in second place,” said Lonigro.

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