SKANEATELES - The Skaneateles girls tennis team remained undefeated after shutting out Cazenovia, 7-0 in Section III, Class B team playoffs on Thursday.
Chet Susslin / The Citizen
Skaneateles seventh grader Elizabeth Lane eyes the ball before she backhands it over the net in match that she won 6-2. 5-7, 6-4 on Thursday afternoon. Skaneateles beat Cazenovia 7-0 in their Section III, Class B playoff meet.
Skaneateles seventh grader Elizabeth Lane eyes the ball before she backhands it over the net in match that she won 6-2. 5-7, 6-4 on Thursday afternoon. Skaneateles beat Cazenovia 7-0 in their Section III, Class B playoff meet.
Senior Amrita Deol (6-0, 6-0) won both of her sets in first singles, not letting the 38-degree, abnormal tennis weather affect her play.
“It was hard because it was really cold and I couldn't feel my hands,” she said. “I was just trying to get it over, I wasn't trying to get any winners. Just trying to get it back.”
The Lakers finished with a perfect 9-0 regular season record and won the OHSL Liberty League title during the regular season. They earned a first-round bye, and after beating Cazenovia, Skaneateles will move on to play the winner of Camden/Jamesville-Dewitt in the third round today.
That's what head coach Bev Kalil said she teaches her players, to take things step by step when they play.
“We tend to take one match at a time, we don't want to look at the big picture,” Kalil said. “All I ask of them is the point on hand. Give me one point at a time, and if we get enough points we've won the day.”
Seventh grader Elizabeth Lane showed poise and played as if she were a team veteran, winning second singles (6-2, 5-7, 6-4) in a match that took over 2.5 hours.
It was the second longest match of her career, as Lane is in her first season on the varsity team. Strangely enough, her longest match (two hours and 45 minutes) was against the same opponent from Cazenovia, Elizabeth Palmer, earlier this season.
As young as she is, Lane said she doesn't get intimidated by playing with the older athletes.
“I like playing tennis I guess, so it's just fun being out on the team, on varsity the first year. And all my teammates are nice, too,” she said.
It was obvious that the youngster had gained the respect of her older teammates, as while they watched on, the majority of the girls shouted words of encouragement.
“Elizabeth exhibits great maturity for one so young, tennis maturity. Making smart decisions, thinks on her feet, which is unusual for someone so young,” said Kalil.
Kalil said that Lane doesn't appear to be intimidated at all and it shows in her results.
In the third singles, Hilary Fenner (6-4, 7-5) fought hard to win her match, as the day became later and the temperature colder. Her teammates cheered her on, huddled beneath blankets in an attempt to keep warm.
Katherine Hill and Megan Holleran (6-3, 6-0) won first doubles, while Ryan Merle and Sidney Lawson (6-0, 6-4) came out on top in second doubles.
Casey VanSlyke and Kathryn Magee (6-2, 6-2) took third doubles, and Dani Alderman and Katarina Kulik (6-1, 6-4) won fourth doubles.
Chelsea White was an alternate for Skaneateles in the win.
Kalil expressed the pride she takes in her team. She said that the depth provided by the veteran players and few younger players on the team really helps them out in the long run. She also said that her team has learned to never underestimate any opponent they face.
“We never take anything for granted,” she said. “We don't assume anything. They will work hard and they will focus on the point at hand, whatever it is. And that's all we can do.”
Skaneateles 7
Cazenovia 0
“It was hard because it was really cold and I couldn't feel my hands,” she said. “I was just trying to get it over, I wasn't trying to get any winners. Just trying to get it back.”
The Lakers finished with a perfect 9-0 regular season record and won the OHSL Liberty League title during the regular season. They earned a first-round bye, and after beating Cazenovia, Skaneateles will move on to play the winner of Camden/Jamesville-Dewitt in the third round today.
That's what head coach Bev Kalil said she teaches her players, to take things step by step when they play.
“We tend to take one match at a time, we don't want to look at the big picture,” Kalil said. “All I ask of them is the point on hand. Give me one point at a time, and if we get enough points we've won the day.”
Seventh grader Elizabeth Lane showed poise and played as if she were a team veteran, winning second singles (6-2, 5-7, 6-4) in a match that took over 2.5 hours.
It was the second longest match of her career, as Lane is in her first season on the varsity team. Strangely enough, her longest match (two hours and 45 minutes) was against the same opponent from Cazenovia, Elizabeth Palmer, earlier this season.
As young as she is, Lane said she doesn't get intimidated by playing with the older athletes.
“I like playing tennis I guess, so it's just fun being out on the team, on varsity the first year. And all my teammates are nice, too,” she said.
It was obvious that the youngster had gained the respect of her older teammates, as while they watched on, the majority of the girls shouted words of encouragement.
“Elizabeth exhibits great maturity for one so young, tennis maturity. Making smart decisions, thinks on her feet, which is unusual for someone so young,” said Kalil.
Kalil said that Lane doesn't appear to be intimidated at all and it shows in her results.
In the third singles, Hilary Fenner (6-4, 7-5) fought hard to win her match, as the day became later and the temperature colder. Her teammates cheered her on, huddled beneath blankets in an attempt to keep warm.
Katherine Hill and Megan Holleran (6-3, 6-0) won first doubles, while Ryan Merle and Sidney Lawson (6-0, 6-4) came out on top in second doubles.
Casey VanSlyke and Kathryn Magee (6-2, 6-2) took third doubles, and Dani Alderman and Katarina Kulik (6-1, 6-4) won fourth doubles.
Chelsea White was an alternate for Skaneateles in the win.
Kalil expressed the pride she takes in her team. She said that the depth provided by the veteran players and few younger players on the team really helps them out in the long run. She also said that her team has learned to never underestimate any opponent they face.
“We never take anything for granted,” she said. “We don't assume anything. They will work hard and they will focus on the point at hand, whatever it is. And that's all we can do.”
Skaneateles 7
Cazenovia 0
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