Academy Park repeats as Del Val champion

A year ago, Academy Park made history when it won its first Del Val League girls tennis title. Despite the loss of Courtney Jenkins to graduation, the Knights managed to make it two championships in a row with a 4-1 triumph over Chester Monday.

Best of all for AP coach Reggie Day, he has no seniors on the squad so the prospects of a three-peat look very good.

Lattana Sithara, Vicky Outland and Breanna Reid swept the singles in straight sets to power the Knights (8-3 overall, 7-0 Del Val). Jasmine Hightower and Vicky Cannon did not lose a game at second doubles. LaTaezya Watson and Aya Salim pulled out a tough three-set victory at first doubles for the Clippers.

Elsewhere in the Del Val League:

Chichester 5, Penn Wood 0: Brittany Murdock and Gongbah Massaquoi needed three sets at second doubles to make it a clean sweep for the Eagles. Vanessa Kovchenko, Elia Bucalova and Sedia Massaquoi took the singles in straight sets.

In the Catholic League:

Archbishop Carroll 4, St. Hubert 1: Sisters Mia and Sarah Grosso scored a 6-4, 6-1 triumph in their first time as doubles partners (at second doubles). Tess Ginn (first singles) and Jackie Finnegan (third singles) remain undefeated in the Catholic League (both 5-0).

In the Central League:

Ridley 4, Marple Newtown 3: Junior Alexis Gallagher and freshman D.J. Johnson clinched the victory for the Green Raiders (5-7, 4-6) with a 6-2, 6-0 triumph at fourth doubles. Ridley swept the doubles. Rylee Power paced a sweep of the singles for the Tigers.

Conestoga 5, Garnet Valley 2: Marina Zhang (first singles) and Richa Srivastava and Ananya Chandra (first doubles) were the winners for the Jaguars. Emma Blake took Conestoga’s Amy Zhang (no relation to Marina) to three sets at second singles.