West Chester Henderson displays winner’s form against Kennett

West Chester >> The West Chester Henderson girls’ tennis squad, the defending Ches-Mont National champion, displayed a winner’s form Tuesday, with a 7-0 victory against a solid Kennett team.
The Warriors (7-3) have remained strong this season despite losing their top three singles players last fall – Kylie Kochis, Ella Tunnell and Sophia Ming. Kochis, the defending Ches-Mont National singles champion, moved to Florida last summer; and Tunnell and Ming, the two-time Ches-Mont National doubles champions, graduated last spring.
On Tuesday, West Chester Henderson won six matches in straight sets against Kennett (3-4). Only the first singles match went three sets, a hard-earned 6-7, 6-3, 10-6 win by Warrior junior Kaitlyn Evans.

“Kaitlyn is a very tough player who grinds for every point,” said West Chester Henderson head coach Peter Sok. “She’s smart and methodical. Early on today, she was having a little trouble with her serve because of the wind, but then she made adjustments for it.”
A smiling Evans said, “Coach Sok always has great advice for me, and he’s been telling to me to be consistent, to focus and to stay mentally tough. I struggled with my serve a little today, but I stayed consistent.”
Evans battled back after losing the first set 7-6 to Kennett senior co-captain Anna Jiang, a veteran performer who is in her second year at first singles for the Blue Demons.
“Anna is a consistent all-around player who leads with her play,” said Kennett head coach John Howanski. “She’s really come on lately, and came back to win her last two matches after losing a close one to Rustin.”

At second singles, Henderson junior Kiera Koay won, 6-4, 6-2.
“Kiera was consistent with her groundstrokes today, she kept the ball in play,” said Sok.
At third singles, Warrior freshman Amelia Jarden posted a 6-2, 6-1 victory. Two weeks ago, Jarden was trailing 3-6, 0-5 in a match against Great Valley but with her back to the wall rallied to win, 3-6, 7-5, 6-1. Jarden pointed to the Great Valley match as a real turning point for her.
“I’ve played with more confidence since that match,” said Jarden. “As a freshman at third singles, you can begin to doubt yourself. I was really consistent and relaxed today.”
Sok said, “Amelia is a good mover on court, and set up her points nicely. It can be a tough situation for a freshman at singles, but she’s been able to [play] her way into that spot.”
At first doubles, Henderson’s Gillian Graham and Marie Logan prevailed in a close match, 7-5, 7-6(5). The Warrior duo trailed 5-2 in the second set before coming back to clinch the match.

“Gillian and Marie really battled back in the second set, kept their composure,” noted Sok.
At second doubles, the duo of Madelyn Walsh and Lauren Cottellesse won, 6-4, 6-1.
“This was a new doubles team [due to an illness Tuesday], and they did a nice job adjusting to each other,” said Sok.
At third doubles, Leah Skomorucha and Sophie Brode won, 6-4, 6-2; and at fourth doubles, Salem Dvorak and Annabelle Speers won by a count of 7-5, 6-1.
Henderson has lost only three matches this year, to Great Valley, Downingtown East and Episcopal Academy.
For Kennett, Howanski noted that the Blue Demons have been getting solid production from the top of their lineup this season, both in singles and doubles.
“[Senior co-captain] Lili Lusvardi at second singles has been a good vocal leader for us,” said Howanski. “And our first doubles (Anais Ritz/Zoe James) and second doubles (Ashley Winkler/Emerson Wolff) have been steady for us this season. … It’s good for us to play against good teams like Henderson.”

West Chester Henderson 7, Kennett 0
Singles: 1. Katlyn Evans (WCH) def. Anna Jiang (K) 6-7, 6-3, 10-6. 2. Kiera Koay (WCH) def. Lili Lusvardi (K), 6-4, 6-2. 3. Amelia Jarden (WCH) def. Maddie Skrypzak (K) 6-2, 6-1.
Doubles: 1. Gillian Graham/Marie Logan (WCH) def. Anais Ritz/Zoe James (K) 7-5, 7-6 (5). 2. Madelyn Walsh/Lauren Cottellesse (WCH) def. Ashley Winkler/Emerson Wolff (K) 6-4, 6-1. 3. Leah Skomorucha/Sophie Brode (WCH) def. Kate Benincasa/Maddie Olivier (K) 6-4, 6-2. 4. Salem Dvorak/Annabelle Speers (WCH) def. Angela Masciantonio/Kate Ciresa (K) 7-5, 6-1.