EA nets tennis win against Baldwin
Bryn Mawr >> With just two girls’ tennis matches remaining and Episcopal Academy holding a narrow 3-2 lead over host Baldwin School Monday, the coaches, the players who had already completed their matches, and the families watching the match voiced their support to the remaining players left on court.
As different voices could be heard, the third doubles team of senior Natalie Johnston and junior Madison Hanssens closed out their match over Baldwin’s Armina Emami and Mimi Salgado to give the visitors the fourth point needed to clinch the match in an eventual 5-2 win.
“It felt good that I was able to partner with Madison (Hassens) and win our match and help the team,” said Johnston, who teamed with Mackenzie Lee last season to clinch a win over Baldwin which gave EA the Inter-Ac title. “I felt we worked hard throughout the match and it felt good to win.”
“It was nice to see Natalie and Madison close out their match which gave us the team win,” said EA coach Whitaker Powell. “We have a talented roster with a lot of depth. They support each other and with a mix of youth and really good senior leadership I am happy for any success this team experiences.”
After EA’s first doubles team of junior Eliza Aldridge and senior co-captain Cara Harty posted a win that was quickly followed by a victory from the EA second doubles team of sophomore Georgie Crockett and senior co-captain Caroline Burt to give the Churchwomen a 2-0 lead, the Polar Bears sliced the Episcopal lead in half, thanks to senior Torrie Smith, who picked up a straight set win over Stefania Calastri.
After EA took a 3-1 lead with a hard-fought straight-set victory from Ashley Kennedy at No. 1 singles over Izzy Antanavicius, Baldwin senior co-captain Presley Daggett punctuated a three-set match with a 6-2 win in the third and deciding match to slice the lead to 3-2 and keep her team’s hopes alive.
“EA is one of the toughest teams were going to face in the Inter-Ac, so winning this past match was definitely a confidence booster – I’m looking forward to my next opponents,” said Baldwin senior co-captain Presley Daggett.
In the end, EA’s doubles were too strong as the visitors won the final two matches to secure the win and start their Inter-Ac campaign on the right foot against a team that they have battled with for the league title during the past three seasons.
“Today was a battle between two talented teams, but in the end we could not overcome the strength of EA’s doubles teams,” said Baldwin coach Jeff Sacks.
Daggett added, ‘I really think it’s important to keep the team motivated to work hard throughout the season, especially after a tough match like today. My co-captain, Torrie Smith, and I make sure to remind the team that this match against EA was really just the start of our Inter-ac season and we have a lot of good matches ahead of us.”
With the victory against Baldwin being the latest in a string of tough matches for EA (5-1), the Churchwomens’ early-season success has been their ability to come together as one, spurred by the senior leadership.
“I look at the seniors and see them as mentors,” said Hassens. “I see what they are doing, the friendships we all have made, and I aspire to be just like them.”
EA 5, Baldwin 2
Singles: 1. Ashley Kennedy (EA) d. Izzy Antanavicius (B) 6-4, 6-3; 2. Torrie Smith (B) d. Stefania Calastri (EA) 6-1, 6-0; 3. Presley Daggett (B) d. Maddy Mitchell (EA) 6-0, 2-6, 6-2.
Doubles: 1. Eliza Aldridge/Cara Harty (EA) d. Hana Ahanger/Berlyn Squillario (B) 6-0, 6-0; 2. Caroline Burt/Georgie Crockett (EA) d. Sophia Tavangar/Sophia Ran (B) 6-1, 6-0; 3. Natalie Johnston/Madison Hanssens (EA) d. Armina Emami/Mimi Salgado (B) 6-0, 6-0; 4. Maggie Lo/Maggie Dugery (EA) d. Zoe Lebowitz/Grace Sheehan (B) 6-2, 6-1.
