Downingtown West edges Conestoga in duel of District 1 powers

DOWNINGTOWN >> Under darkening skies, a full 26 minutes after sunset, the outcome of Wednesday’s tennis match between Ches-Mont National Division champion Downingtown West and Central League power Conestoga was still shadowy.
The two teams were tied at 3-3, and the match at first singles between D-West freshman Tanya Pant and Central League singles champion Ananya Krishnan featured a couple of never-say-die performers who repeatedly sustained long volleys in a three-set, 3 1/2 hour slugfest.
Finally, Pant prevailed for a 4-6, 6-2, 7-6 (7-5) victory to give host Downingtown West a 4-3 nonleague win against Conestoga (10-3, 8-1) in a battle between two of the top teams in the district.
With the hard-earned victory, the Whippets improved their record to 15-1.
“It was really nerve-racking at the end of the match,” said a smiling Pant, who finished third in the Ches-Mont National Division singles championships four days earlier. “I think the key for me at the end was staying calm and taking it one point at a time.”
Pant was trailing 5-3 in the third set before battling back for the victory.
Downingtown West head coach Justin DePietropaolo said, “To be able to play in the [impending] dark, where you can see the ball [clearly] only if it’a against the skyline, requires incredible patience and incredible hand-eye coordination, and Tanya has both.”
Conestoga head coach Brittany Aimone said, “I was proud of the way Ananya fought through three sets, in the dark [at the end]. There was phenomenal play on both sides today.”
DePietropaolo said, “The play was unbelievable by both teams today. I was blown away by Conestoga’s play – Conestoga is a powerhouse in District 1, and the Central League is always strong.”
At second singles, Downingtown West sophomore Sophia Koons improved her record to 16-1 with a 6-3, 7-5 win against Conestoga sophomore Leena Kwak, who finished second in the Central League singles championships. In the second set Wednesday, Koons battled back from a 5-4 deficit.
“Leena really knows how to put the ball away on her forehand,” said a smiling Koons. “For me, the key was being consistent, keeping the ball in play.”
DePietropaolo said, “Our singles play has really been solid for us this season.”
At third singles, Conestoga senior Olivia Dodge, who has lost only one match this fall, defeated Lily Shi 1-6, 6-4, 6-4.
“I became more patient in the second and third set,” said Dodge.
At first doubles, Conestoga’s Coco Kambayashi and Bella Chen defeated sophomore Alyssa Dehart (13-5) and junior Siya Sehgal (12-3) in a three-set match, 6-2, 3-6, 6-4.
Downingtown West’s senior duo of Divya Kalmady and Lili Zebluim improved their record to 13-2 at second doubles with a 6-2, 6-4 win against Conestoga’s Felicia Manful and Catherine Hailey, who until Wednesday had only lost one match at second doubles.
“Thye key for us today was staying aggressive,” said Kalmady.
Conestoga’s senior duo of Taylor Deasy and Jess Niemeyer hung tough to win their third doubles match against the D-West senior pair of Sydney Minnier and Ali Madel, 7-5, 7-6. Entering the match, Minnier and Madel had posted a 14-1 record as a doubles pair this fall.
“I was extremely proud of the way all of our players fought today for every point,” said Aimone.
At fourth doubles, the D-West duo of junior Kaitlyn Pacheco (12-3) and junior Payton Beaver (playing in her first varsity match) battled back after a loss in the first set to defeat Claire Connelly and Rachel He, 3-6, 6-2, 6-1. Four of the seven matches Wednesday went to three sets.
Downingtown West, who advanced to PIAA state quarterfinals last fall, has lost only one match this fall, to Unionville Sept. 5, and defeated powerful Episcopal Academy 4-3 earlier this season.
“When we lost two great players in Jordan Bradley and Holly Koons to graduation last spring, I think some people might have wondered how well we were going to do this fall,” said DePietropaolo. “But other players have stepped up this season, and we’ve got a solid team.”