Conestoga gets off to good start in District 1 3A girls tennis team tourney

Defending PIAA 3A girls’ tennis state champion Conestoga got off to a good start in the PIAA District 1 3A team tournament by sweeping Kennett, 5-0, in the first round Monday at the Upper Main Line YMCA.
The undefeated Pioneers (13-0), seeded second in the District 1 3A tourney, have featured a different cast of characters this fall than the lineup that won the PIAA 3A state championship last year.

“We lost seven starters to graduation last spring,” noted Conestoga head coach Brittany Aimone.
In Monday’s match, at first singles, freshman Isabelle Emmanuel won 6-0, 6-0; at second singles, junior Kate Emmanuel won 6-1, 6-1; at third singles, Jennifer He won 6-0, 6-0; at first doubles, Bella Chen/Melissa Fan won 6-2, 6-2; and at second doubles, Michelle Han/Sowmya Krishna won 6-0, 6-0.
In the second round, played today (Tuesday), Conestoga will host No. 7 seed Central Bucks East, who defeated 10th seed Downingtown East, 3-2, Monday.
This fall, the Pioneers dominated the Central League, beating every league opponent 7-0 with the lone exception of Radnor (a 6-1 victory).
Leading the way for the Pioneers this fall has been Isabelle Emmanuel (undefeated at first singles) and Kate Emmanuel (only one loss at second singles).
Last Saturday, the Emmanuel sisters teamed up to win the Central League doubles title, and will compete at the District 1 3A doubles tournament. It was an all-Conestoga championship final in the Central League doubles tournament, as the Pioneer team of He and Chen finished second. Jennifer He has filled the third singles spot for Conestoga this fall, and Chen has played first doubles.
Kennett, who entered the tournament with a 10-4 record, has been led this season by senior captains Anna Jiang at first singles and Lili Lusvardi at second singles. Jiang and Lusvardi will compete as a doubles team in the District 1 3A doubles tournament.
“They have been good leaders for us this season,” said Kennett coach John Howanski.
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Downingtown East (11-3) lost to No. 7 seed Central Bucks East, 3-2, in the first round of the District 1 3A team tournament Monday. For the 10th seeded Cougars, the winners were Dhriti Munagala at second singles and the duo of Kenley Bernhardt and Libby Blok at second doubles.
Munagala, who has not lost a match at second singles all season, has been a key contributor for the Cougars this season. She finished third in the Ches-Mont National singles tournament, and made it to second round in the District 1 3A singles tourney.
“Dhriti is a tough competitor, and is the engine of our team,” said D-East coach Chris Waychunas. “Our doubles players, Twisha Dudgundi, Kenley Bernhardt, Libby Blok, and Aarushi Jain, Nicky Burke, Sofia Khalifa, Naishu Vytla, Kayla Orischak and Chaitrali More have all contributed equally and at key moments in the season. They contributed by simply being team members committed to playing their best and helping each other attain the best tennis versions of themselves.”
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Top-seeded Unionville moved to 15-0 by sweeping No. 16 Academy Park, 5-0, in the District 1 3A girls’ tennis team tournament. The Longhorns won all five matches, 6-0, 6-0.

Great Valley, the 11th seed in the tourney, lost to No. 6 seed Wissahickon, 4-1, Monday in the first round. The lone Patriots winner was Mabel Qiu, who won at first singles.
In other District 1 3A girls’ tennis team tourament first round action Monday, No. 12 seed West Chester Henderson (11-4) lost to fifth seed Wissahickon, 5-0; No. 8 seed Radnor defeated ninth seed Harriton, 4-1; No. 4 seed Council Rock South beat 13th seed Strath Haven, 5-0; and No. 3 seed Spring-Ford defeated 14th seed Gwynedd Mercy, 5-0.

 

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