Girls Tennis: O’Hara sweeps to Catholic League crown
The Cardinal O’Hara girls tennis team was the best the Catholic League had to offer this season. The Lions just had to prove it one more time Thursday.
Top singles player Allison Salmon got things started with a 6-0, 6-1 decision as the Lions would go on to sweep Lansdale Catholic, 5-0, and claim the program’s first Catholic League championship since 2011.
The Lions avenged last year’s loss to LC in the final and advance to the District 12 Class AAA championship against Central at Legacy Tennis Center next Tuesday at 2 p.m.
Gabriella Levy, the Lions’ No. 2 singles player, and the first doubles duo of Laura Brady and Colleen Callahan stayed perfect for the season. Levy defeated Caitlin Hoos 6-1, 6-0. Brady and Callahan won their match against Hannah Basilii and Abigail Pinder by the same score and clinched the title for the Lions. Cara Degnan and Melanie Anderson guaranteed an O’Hara shutout with a 6-2, 6-4 win at second doubles.
Caitlin Savage bested Nadia Schimony 6-0, 6-0 in the third singles match. It was a remarkable turn of events for Savage, who had lost to Schimony during the regular season.
“I’ve never seen them play any better,’ coach Patty Fitzgerald said. “They were so ready to play. They were a little nervious, but the nerves didn’t last too long once they realized how good they were. It was fun.’
Cara Degnan and Melanie Anderson
In nonleague action:
Ridley 6, Chichester 1: Ela Sirin and Maddie Carlson were victorious in single play as Ridley inched closer to the .500 mark.
The Green Raiders (7-8) pulled off a clean sweep in doubles play led by the No. 1 tandem of Ria Polo and D.J. Johnson.
Vanena Kobchenko was a winner at first singles for the Eagles.
In Bicentenial League play:
Delco Christian 6, Jenkintown 1: Ellie Schmucker and Mei Li bested their opponents in singles action as the Knights ended their season in winning fashion. Sarah Hurd and Lydia Erickson earned a hard-fought 6-4, 6-4 decision at first doubles. In the fourth match, Maya Neal and Grace Newman battled to a 7-6, 10-8 win.
