With an 8-5 record for the regular season and a third seed heading into Thursday's Section III tournament game against Whitesboro, coach Shelly Connors and the Maroons' varsity tennis team are feeling confident.
The Citizen file photo
Auburn's Emily Mastropietro returns a serve during a doubles match against Henninger on Sept. 4 at Auburn High School.
Auburn's Emily Mastropietro returns a serve during a doubles match against Henninger on Sept. 4 at Auburn High School.
“I think the season went really well,” Connors said. “I think we did very well. This is one of the best records we've had since I started coaching and the girls really pulled together this year and played well and pulled out some great wins when we really needed them.”
Looking back on the season, Connors remembered some particularly important wins, including those against Oswego, Central Square and West Genesee.
“West Genny in particular,” Connors said. “That one was really exciting, especially the way we won.”
Auburn won first singles and second singles and had a hard-fought fourth singles match that proved to be an exciting capper to the season.
“Sam and Jamie Bruno played great,” Connors said. “They won their first set and West Genny kept coming back and tied things up and then Sam and Jamie were able to win in a tiebreaker 7-6; It was a really exciting match and a big win for us.”
This was a highlight of the final week of the regular season, where the Maroons went 2-3, losing to Cortland, Liverpool and Fayetteville-Manlius, but pulling out a win against Corcoran and West Genesee.
“It was a long week,” Connors said. “We had a match every day last week. It was a really long one for the girls, but I think they did well.”
This is a season made all the more impressive by the nature of the team.
After losing some seniors heading into this season - most notably sectional champ Melissa Coughlin - the Maroons were comprised of some young, but talented players.
Connors was particularly impressed with the play of her first singles player, seventh grader Claire Minnoe.
“I really wasn't sure how she was going to play,” Connors said. “She was over .500 for the season and will go to sectionals for individual play. She won her spot. We had playoffs and she earned her place and she had a great season for us.”
Eighth grader Delaney Scollan at second singles is also a younger player but one that is definitely talented.
“This is her second season with us,” Connors said. “She only had one loss all season and that was to F-M on Wednesday. When we needed it she was there and able to really play well for us. Both her and Claire have taken private lessons for a long time and have been playing for a long time and are both very talented players.”
Along with exceptional play on the courts, Connors has also seen an exceptional amount of support among her players this season, a fact she believes has made quite a difference.
“They are very close,” Connors said. “They do a lot together. I think that has made a big difference. You can see it, when someone doesn't have a match they are out there supporting their teammates who are on the court. I think that has made a big difference this season.”
After a long final week of the regular season, Connors and the team took the three-day weekend to regroup and will begin practice today to prepare for sixth-seeded Whitesboro.
“That last week was pretty tough,” Connors said. “So we're taking a little time, but we'll get back into practice and we're really looking forward to having a home match for sectionals instead of having to travel for a change. I think the whole team is really excited and ready to play.”
With the talent on this year's team and the focus and determination she has seen them demonstrate, Connors feels confident heading into Thursday's match.
“They haven't asked who we're playing next,” Connors said. “To me, that is a really good sign. It shows that they are very focused on what we have to do right now. We played Whitesboro before and they were seeded above us and we were able to beat them 7-0, so I feel pretty confident and I think the girls are all feeling good and are excited to start sectionals.”
Looking back on the season, Connors remembered some particularly important wins, including those against Oswego, Central Square and West Genesee.
“West Genny in particular,” Connors said. “That one was really exciting, especially the way we won.”
Auburn won first singles and second singles and had a hard-fought fourth singles match that proved to be an exciting capper to the season.
“Sam and Jamie Bruno played great,” Connors said. “They won their first set and West Genny kept coming back and tied things up and then Sam and Jamie were able to win in a tiebreaker 7-6; It was a really exciting match and a big win for us.”
This was a highlight of the final week of the regular season, where the Maroons went 2-3, losing to Cortland, Liverpool and Fayetteville-Manlius, but pulling out a win against Corcoran and West Genesee.
“It was a long week,” Connors said. “We had a match every day last week. It was a really long one for the girls, but I think they did well.”
This is a season made all the more impressive by the nature of the team.
After losing some seniors heading into this season - most notably sectional champ Melissa Coughlin - the Maroons were comprised of some young, but talented players.
Connors was particularly impressed with the play of her first singles player, seventh grader Claire Minnoe.
“I really wasn't sure how she was going to play,” Connors said. “She was over .500 for the season and will go to sectionals for individual play. She won her spot. We had playoffs and she earned her place and she had a great season for us.”
Eighth grader Delaney Scollan at second singles is also a younger player but one that is definitely talented.
“This is her second season with us,” Connors said. “She only had one loss all season and that was to F-M on Wednesday. When we needed it she was there and able to really play well for us. Both her and Claire have taken private lessons for a long time and have been playing for a long time and are both very talented players.”
Along with exceptional play on the courts, Connors has also seen an exceptional amount of support among her players this season, a fact she believes has made quite a difference.
“They are very close,” Connors said. “They do a lot together. I think that has made a big difference. You can see it, when someone doesn't have a match they are out there supporting their teammates who are on the court. I think that has made a big difference this season.”
After a long final week of the regular season, Connors and the team took the three-day weekend to regroup and will begin practice today to prepare for sixth-seeded Whitesboro.
“That last week was pretty tough,” Connors said. “So we're taking a little time, but we'll get back into practice and we're really looking forward to having a home match for sectionals instead of having to travel for a change. I think the whole team is really excited and ready to play.”
With the talent on this year's team and the focus and determination she has seen them demonstrate, Connors feels confident heading into Thursday's match.
“They haven't asked who we're playing next,” Connors said. “To me, that is a really good sign. It shows that they are very focused on what we have to do right now. We played Whitesboro before and they were seeded above us and we were able to beat them 7-0, so I feel pretty confident and I think the girls are all feeling good and are excited to start sectionals.”
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