Sparked by its doubles teams, Greenwich’s girls tennis team edged Westhill

By David Fierro on May 7, 2022 • ( Leave a comment )

Photo courtesy of Lulu Diez de Bonilla: The Greenwich High School girls tennis team posted a 4-3 win over Westhill in a match played on May 5, 2022 in Greenwich. The Cardinals have won four straight matches.

Winning all three doubles matches against Westhill enabled Greenwich High School’s girls tennis team to extend its winning streak to four matches.

Sparked by their doubles teams, the Cardinals raised their record to 8-3 with a well-earned 4-3 win over the visiting Vikings in a key late season FCIAC match held on Thursday at Greenwich High School.

“The team is developing so well,” Greenwich coach Julie Shropshire said. “Our doubles teams are really coming together. We have a lot of depth this year, as a result girls have been playing with lots of different partners and positions.”

Photo by Lulu Diez de Bonilla: Greenwich’s girls tennis team gathers against its match vs. Westhill on May 5, 2022.

Greenwich’s No. 1 doubles team of senior co-captain Courteney Sheets and junior Julia Tamis were victorious against Westhill’s duo of Amanda Smeriglio and Ella MacPherson, 6-2, 6-1.

“First doubles gave us our first win,” Shropshire said. “Julia was out sick for 10 days and to come back and play as strongly as she did her first day was very impressive.”

At second doubles, freshman Yume Inagawa and sophomore Emily Weinstein teamed up for a 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 comeback win against Westhill’s Danielle Pareja/Allison Lopez.

Photo by Lulu Diez de Bonilla: Greenwich senior Courteney Sheets gets ready to return a shot during a doubles match against Westhill on May 5, 2022, at Greenwich High School.

Photo by Lulu Diez de Bonilla: Yume Inagawa and Emily Weinstein gave Greenwich a three-set win at second doubles against Westhill in a match held at Greenwich High on May 5, 2022.

At third doubles, junior Mei McGuinness and freshman Emme Pecorin notched a tough 6-2, 2-6, 6-4 triumph for the Cards.

“Second and third doubles were neck in neck and with the support of their teammates both won within seconds of each other,” Shropshire said.

In the No. 1 singles matchup, Westhill senior Martina Kaba posted a 6-1, 6-1 victory against GHS junior Ivanna Diez de Bonilla. Niki Ecomidis was victorious for the Vikings against sophomore Kyra Dybas at No. 2, 6-3, 6-0. At No. 3, Isabella Jakes edged Cardinals sophomore Malena Schraa, 6-3, 6-7, 6-1.

Photo courtesy of Lulu Diez de Bonilla: Malena Schraa of Greenwich gets ready to return a shot against Westhill.

“Our singles line up is very strong this year too, but we are finding this to be true for all of the other teams in the FCIACS as well. Our singles girls leave it all on the court, and for that I couldn’t be prouder of them.”

Photo by Lulu Diez de Bonilla: Greenwich defeated Westhill, 4-3, in an FCIAC matchup.

“We lost first and second singles despite the girls being out there for two hours,” Shropshire noted. “It was very high level tennis. Unfortunately, Malena suffered an injury at the start of the third set, but gave it her all to still try to get a point for the team.”

Greenwich’s singles win came at the No. 4 spot, where sophomore Lilly Foley won in straight sets over Sophia Alexander, 6-0, 7-5.

“Lilly Foley is really coming into her own and playing phenomenally,” Shropshire said. “She is a very patient player that knows when to go for the kill.”