It was déjà vu all over again in both of the Ches-Mont girls tennis singles tournaments this weekend, as both defending champions (American and National divisions) captured the title of their respective division once again.
Unionville High School senior Grace Li won her third consecutive Ches-Mont American League singles title, sweeping all four of her matches 6-0, 6-0 at West Chester Rustin High School. West Chester Henderson senior Kaitlyn Evans successfully defended her National League singles title by defeating Downingtown East’s Dhriti Munagala, 6-0, 3-6, 6-2 in the championship final at West Chester Henderson High School.
In the American Division championship final, Liu faced Great Valley senior Mabel Qiu for the third straight year, and emerged victorious. She defeated Unionville senior Sophie Zhang in the semifinal.
Li, who is the defending PIAA 3A state singles champion, and the Daily Local News Girls Tennis Player of the Year for each of the last two years, said, “Today’s match was one of (my) best of the season to date. I really tried to just stay focused on my game and not worry too much about my outside surroundings. I really enjoyed getting to see the other players and coaches at the tournament. I’m excited and looking forward to districts.”
Unionville girls’ tennis coach Janet Johnston said, “Grace is an outstanding athlete and individual. She has worked hard to achieve her goal of playing a very high level of tennis as well as at the same time be an outstanding student. We clearly are very fortunate to have the reigning state singles champion on our team.”
Great Valley head coach Gerry McGrath said, “Grace hits a very clean ball, hits it on the rise, can hit winners from anywhere on the court and is strong mentally. She’s the complete breakfast. She’s an amazing player, but is also very grounded and down-to-earth.”
Qiu defeated West Chester Rustin senior Maya Tashie in the semifinal, 6-1, 6-2, to advance to the championship final. She has qualified for the District 1 3A singles tournament for the third straight year.
“Mabel is a very steady player, smart, and plays within her own game,” said McGrath.
In the third-place match, Tashie clinched a berth in the upcoming PIAA District 1 3A singles tournament by defeating Zhang, 6-0, 6-1.
In the Ches-Mont National Singles tournament semifinals at West Chester Henderson, Munagala defeated Downingtown East’s Mahi Patel, 6-3, 6-4; while Evans defeated Downingtown East freshman Maya Shankar, 6-1, 6-1.
Munagala finished third in last year’s Ches-Mont National singles tournament.
In the third-place match, Patel clinched a berth in the upcoming District 1 3A singles tournament by defeating Shankar, 6-3, 6-2.
Downingtown East coach Chris Waychunas said, “Dhriti has been training really hard and it’s good to see it paying off. She’s one of the pillars of our team. Mahi is a late bloomer. She broke her foot before the season, so she is literally just starting to find her stride. She’s a great younger player with a lot of fight.”
