Greenwich High boys tennis team advances to state final with home victory over Glastonbury in semifinals

By David Fierro on June 4, 2025 • ( Leave a comment )

Alexander Salib, Greenwich’s No. 1 singles player, in action during the CIAC Class LL semifinals vs. Glastonbury.

Kings of the court.

That’s what the Greenwich High School varsity boys tennis team has been on its home courts this season, winning all of its matches this season – the type of success that’s helped them continue its overall winning streak dating back to the 2023 season.

Now, the Cardinals need one more road win – actually a victory at a neutral site – to win another state title and complete a third consecutive undefeated season.

Top-seeded Greenwich, which has a record of 21-0, plays third-seeded Fairfield Prep in today’s 2:30 p.m. CIAC Class LL Tennis Tournament final at Joel Barlow High School in Redding. The Cardinals earned a return journey to the tournament’s championship match, by registering a 4-0 home victory over fourth-seeded Glastonbury in the semifinal-round of the Class LL tourney on June 3. Fairfield Prep advanced to the state final by defeating second-seeded Staples, the squad Greenwich beat in the 2024 Class LL title match, 4-2, in the other semifinal on June 3.

Greenwich High School senior Alexander Salib hits a forehand at first singles in the state semifinal-round match.

“We’re very excited, we’re ready to take it all and perfect the undefeated three years, fingers crossed,” Greenwich senior captain Alexander Salib said following the Cardinals’ semifinal-round triumph versus Glastonbury.

Salib was victorious in his match at first singles against Glastonbury’s Alexander Scudder, a junior, 6-3, 6-2.

“I went in there, played my game, hit good shots, tried not to miss and things went my way,” Salib said of his semifinal match versus Glastonbury.

Salib mentioned the Cardinals’ singles depth as one of the reasons for the squad’s outstanding success.

“This year, we’ve had a very strong singles lineup,” he noted. “All four of our singles players were mentioned in All-FCIAC, which is a great achievement. It shows how far we’ve come as a team.”

Greenwich High senior Manuel Galli gets ready to return a shot from the baseline in the CIAC Class LL semifinals against Glastonbury at Greenwich High School on June 3, 2025. The Cardinals won the match, 4-0.

At second singles, senior captain Manuel Galli cruised to another victory for Greenwich. Galli topped Glastonbury senior Andrew Risinger, 6-0, 6-2.

Galli was in control throughout his match, keeping his opponent on the run, while displaying his strong serve and punishing groundstrokes.

“It was a great win,” Galli said. “I’m really looking forward to tomorrow (today’s title match). I was really feeling it and feeding off the support of my teammates. I was able to play great tennis.”

Risinger had a power game as well, but Galli’s consistency was also key.

Cardinals senior Manuel Galli won his match at No. 2 singles in straight sets vs. Glastonbury in the CIAC Class LL semifinals.

“With these kind of people who hit big, I can out grind them and that’s kind of my game,” Salib noted, while mentioning his appreciation of what the varsity program has accomplished over the years.

“It’s just unbelievable what we have achieved,” Galli added. “There’s just one more win and we’re just so dialed in to get it. Not only this team, but the past teams of the past three or four years – it’s been something amazing to be part of. Now with one final match, it will be a dream come true if we win it all again.”

In doubles action, senior captain Rohan Mittal and senior Cole Frumin kept their season of perfection going. Mittal and Frumin were 6-0, 6-3 winners against their Glastonbury foes at the No. 1 doubles spot, where they have gone undefeated so far this season in their first season as a tandem.

Rohan Mittal, left and Cole Frumin were straight set winners in their CIAC Class LL semifinal-round match vs. Glastonbury.

Greenwich sophomore Jake Orbanowski and freshman Ryan Stanton were impressive 6-0, 6-2 victors at third doubles over Glastonbury.

“I think it was a good match,” Stanton said. “They were consistent, they hit a lot of lobs. The games we lost in the second set were just off unforced errors, we were missing overheads.”

“We have to prepare for the best in the finals and hopefully, we can get it done,” Orbanowski said.

Ryan Stanton. left and Jake Orbanowski won in straight sets at No. 3 doubles for GHS vs. Glastonbury in the state semifinals.

In the No. 3 singles match, Cardinals sophomore Owen Kwon lost the first set to James Landry, 6-4, but was up in the second set, 5-0 when Greenwich clinched the match, so third singles was halted. Junior Elias Orrell won the first set at No. 4 singles for Greenwich, 6-3 and was ahead, 3-2, in the second when the Cards clinched.

The Cardinals’ No. 2 doubles team of senior Pierre August and senior Ishan Ambastha took their first set, 6-3 and were on top, 4-2, in the second set in their matchup, which was not completed.

Overall, Greenwich has a winning streak of 65 matches over the parts of three seasons. The Cardinals are vying for their third straight Class LL state tournament title today and 15th state championship overall.