Lower Merion wins PIAA Class AAA state title

The Lower Merion High School boys’ tennis team captured the PIAA Class AAA state championship Saturday, defeating Upper St. Clair, 3-2, in the championship final.

This is the program’s third PIAA Class AAA state title. The previous two titles came in 2006 and 2007, both with victories in the championship final against Upper St. Clair.

In the championship final, Lower Merion swept the singles matches. At first singles, Simon Vernier defeated Fernando Escribens 6-3, 6-4; at second singles, Matt Chen defeated Dominick D’Amico 6-3, 6-2; and at third singles, Thibault Vernier defeated Anthony Abinanti 6-2, 6-2.

Lower Merion head coach Dave O’Connell said, “This has been a three-year journey, with all the players having bought into the team mentality. The kids for the last three years have all contributed to this win. Our goal was to take the ‘ next step’ and get past the quarterfinals and defeat Shady Side and continue toward our goal. All of the team’s hard work paid off with this win.’

In the state semifinal earlier that day, Lower Merion swept past Abington Heights, 5-0. At first singles, Simon Vernier defeated Rishi Mulloth 6-1, 6-0; at second singles, Matt Chen defeated Sahas Chandragiri 6-1, 6-1; at third singles, Thibault Vernier defeated Brandon Ostrowski 6-0, 6-0; at first doubles, Nick Legg and Lucas Kreuzer defeated Bailey Harris and Jame Calvo-Barrio 6-2, 6-1; and at second doubles, Jared Robinson and Omosessan Adebamgbe defeated Richie Albright and Cayden Scavantino 7-5, 6-2.

One day earlier, Lower Merion ended the reign of defending champion Shady Side Academy with a 3-2 victory led by a strong showing of the singles trio of Simon Vernier, Matt Chen, and Thibault Vernier. Chen clinched the victory with a 7-6, 7-6 defeat of Derek Chen of Shady Side. The Aces broke a two-year streak of being eliminated by Shady Side in the quarterfinals. At first singles, Lower Merion’s Simon Vernier defeated Eric Grubbs 6-3, 6-3; at second singles, the Aces’ Matt Chen defeated Derek Chen 7-6(4), 7-6(3); and at third singles, LM’s Thibault Vernier defeated Cooper Kann 6-1, 6-2.