Greenwich High boys tennis team defeats Darien in FCIAC semifinals, Fairfield Ludlowe in quarterfinals to remain undefeated on the way to the finals

By David Fierro on May 18, 2024 • ( Leave a comment )

**Photo by David Fierro:** Alexander Salib of Greenwich hits a forehand during his FCIAC Tournament semifinal-round match against Darien High School at Greenwich High School on May 16, 2024.

Back to the championship match.

That’s where the Greenwich High School boys tennis team is heading after defeating Darien in the FCIAC Tournament semifinals on Thursday.

The defending FCIAC Tournament champion Cardinals earned a return trip to the title match by recording a 4-1 win over visiting Darien in the tourney’s semifinal round.

Top-seeded Greenwich, which was victorious against Darien in the 2023 conference title matchup, plays second-seeded New Canaan in Monday’s 2 p.m. FCIAC Tournament final at Wilton High School. The Cardinals sport a record of 17-0, finishing 15-0 during the regular season.

Photo by David Fierro: Alexander Salib of Greenwich High School in action during his semifinal-round match against Darien in the FCIAC Boys Tennis Tournament. The Cardinals defeated Darien to advance to the tournament’s final.

In the semifinals against rival Darien, Greenwich received a victory in singles play and swept the three doubles matches. Two singles matches were not completed since the Cardinals posted the four wins necessary to win the match.

Junior Matthew Hunt had the clinching win for the Cardinals at No. singles. Hunt came back to defeat Darien sophomore Rithik Malwani, 2-6, 6-2, 6-2. In doubles action, senior Harrison Wolfe and junior Rohan Mittal continued their outstanding season, winning in straight sets at the top spot.

Mital and Wolfe, who also excelled last spring, topped Darien’s Oscar Barton and Dallas White, 6-0, 6-1.

Photo by David Fierro: Volodymyr Dombrovskyi of Greenwich gets ready to hit a backhand during his match in the FCIAC Tournament semifinals versus visiting Darien on May 16, 2024. He plays at No. 1 singles for the Cardinals.

“Wolf and Mittal at first doubles played strong and smart to win, 6-0, 6-1,” GHS coach Ray Marschall said.

At second doubles, senior Bruce Lunder and junior Manuel Galli Specos of Greenwich registered a 6-1, 7-5 victory against Darien. In the No. 3 doubles match, junior Ishan Ambastha and Daniel Lee, also a junior, were victorious for Greenwich, 6-0, 6-1.

In the No. 1 singles match, freshman Kai Collins of Darien won his match against GHS sophomore Volodymyr Dombrovskyi 7-5, 2-0 (Dombrovskyi retired in the second set).

Greenwich’s No. 1 singles player Volodymyr Dombrovskyi waits to return a serve against Darien in the FCIAC Tournament.

Cardinals junior Alexander Salib and Darien senior Will Donnelly didn’t finish their match at No. 1 singles and junior Pierre August (Greenwich) and junior Rowan Bepler didn’t complete their match at the No. 2 singles spot.

The undefeated Cardinals advanced to the FCIAC semifinals by sweeping eighth-seeded Fairfield Ludlowe, 4-0, in Tuesday’s quarterfinals. Salib was a 6-1, 6-1 winner at first singles, Hunt won his match at No. 2, 6-0, 6-2 to lead the Cardinals’ singles lineup.

Manuel Galli Specos of Greenwich’s tennis team gets ready to serve during his match at No. 2 doubles against rival Darien.

At first doubles, Wolfe/Mittal cruised to a 6-0, 6-0 victory and Ambastha/Lee coasted past their foes, 6-1, 6-0. When Greenwich plays New Canaan in Monday’s FCIAC Tournament final at Wilton High School, it will seek to win its 18th FCIAC Tournament championship.