WILKES-BARRE – Abington Heights celebrated team and individual success at Kirby Park in the District 2-4 Class 3A Subregional girls tennis tournaments.
The Lady Comets won the subregional team title for the first time since 2015 Oct. 7.
Sophomore Bella Peters, who led the way to the team title with dominant wins at first singles in both matches, then added her second straight title when the two-day singles tournament concluded Friday.
“It was a really exciting week,” said Lady Comets coach Kelly Arp, whose teams had won District 2 titles in 2016 and 2018, but fell short of the subregional title with losses to District 4 member Williamsport. “Bella fought hard (Friday) and all the girls played really well.
“They were very determined going into the team championships. We have a lot of seniors who have just missed winning the title a couple years in a row. They were very determined that this was their year to do it, so I’m very proud of them.”
Four of the seven players in the lineup were seniors. Clare DellaValle and Lauren Koczwara filled singles spots while Sidney Horvath and Julia Brown were part of the doubles teams. There are four other seniors on the team, who were not part of the district lineup.
Singles
Bella Peters won 24 of 27 games after falling behind in the first set of the semifinals Friday, recovering to win her second straight subregional singles championship.
“I think there was a little more pressure than last year, just because I felt I was expected to win, and I do have those expectations of myself,” Peters said after her 6-1, 6-0 championship match victory over Williamsport’s Mia Shuler. “I am glad that I dealt with it the way that I did.”
Peters won both of her Thursday matches, 6-0, 6-0.
Friday’s semifinal did not go as smoothly.
Hazleton Area’s Alyssa Mazurek opened a 5-1 lead in the first set before Peters rallied to a 7-5, 6-2 victory.
“I wasn’t really expecting the amount of consistency she had, so I had to adjust to that,” Peters said. “I knew I could do it because I had done it in the past. I just kept telling myself, let her create the error.”
Once the comeback was complete, Peters rolled through the final.
“I think the momentum I had, knowing I was able to pull that one out, I think that obviously did carry over,” Peters said.
Clare DellaValle won her first match for the Lady Comets, but was eliminated in the quarterfinals.
DellaValle defeated North Pocono’s Parri Salak, 6-2, 6-0. The third seed was upset by sixth-seeded Anabel Gifoli from Wyoming Valley West, 6-4, 7-6 (7-5).
Team
Abington Heights did not lose a set in either match on its way to the subregional team championships.
The Lady Comets defeated Wyoming Valley West, 4-0, for the title and were ahead in the one match that was halted because the championship was decided.
Similarly, they beat North Pocono, 3-0, in the semifinals and were ahead in the two matches that were stopped so that the team could get ready for its championship match.
Bella Peters and Lauren Koczwara, at first and third singles, each won in both matches, dropping just one game in four sets.
Sidney Horvath-Isabel Holland won, 6-1, 6-0, at first doubles against North Pocono. Clare DellaValle and the first doubles team of Julia Brown-Rina Hanumali had each won their first set and built a lead in the second set.
Della Valle and Brown-Hanumali had wins against Wyoming Valley West. Horvath-Holland were two games from a win.
Abington Heights won 55 of 60 games in the North Pocono match and was even more dominant in the final, winning 58 of 61 games.
“We’re obviously a good team skill-wise,” Peters said. “But, I don’t think we could have won just based on that.
“All of us together, we have such an incredible bound. We all get together so well and always encourage each other when we’re playing next to each other. Even, if we’re down, we always find ways to come back. I don’t think I’d be where I am without my team.”
