Philadelphia >> Conestoga, the defending PIAA 3A boys tennis state champion, opened its PIAA 3A state team tournament play by rolling to a 5-0 victory against St. Joseph’s Prep Tuesday morning at the Legacy Tennis Center, winning all five matches in straight sets.
Maybe the most interesting match was at first singles, where Conestoga freshman Ethan Sun trailed in the first set 5-2 against SJP senior Peter Bae but rallied to win 7-5 and then capped it with a 6-2 victory. Last month, Sun finished second at the PIAA District 1 3A singles tournament.
“Ethan is super-analytical; he can remove himself from the match and see what needs to be done to come back,” said Conestoga boys’ tennis head coach Britt Aimone. “There’s never a point in his match where he’s not giving 100 percent, even when he’s (trailing). He remains poised and graceful on the court.”
Sun reflected on his first set comeback: “Staying more consistent was the key. It’s going to be fun going to Hershey, my teammates are very supportive.”
St. Joseph’s Prep, the District 12 3A team champion who entered Tuesday with a 14-1 record, is a familiar foe to the Pioneers in the PIAA 3A team tourney – last year, in the state opener, Conestoga beat SJP 4-0.
St. Joseph’s Prep’s first-year head coach Tyler Peatman said, “Conestoga is a very solid team, very well-coached.”
At second singles, Conestoga junior Rohan Rao defeated SJP senior Connor Knight, 6-2, 6-2. Last weekend, Rao teamed with Conestoga senior Voyan Markovic to capture the PIAA District 1 3A doubles title.
“I just tried to stay loose today and not get down on myself if I lose a point,” said Rao.
At third singles, Markovic defeated SJP freshman Ethan Cosgrove, 6-1, 6-0.
“I just wanted to make my serve (effective) today,” said Markovic.
At first doubles, the Conestoga senior duo of Basil Lubiniecki and Francis Qin defeated SJP seniors Matthew Schuenemann and Samuel Seneca, 6-3, 6-0. Last spring, Lubiniecki played first doubles for Conestoga in the PIAA 3A team tournament, and he also teamed with Qin to compete in the PIAA 3A doubles tourney last year.
“I think this match was kind of reflective of all of our matches this season – we kind of start off a little slow, then we pick up the pace,” said a smiling Lubiniecki. “I tried serving bigger today, and I think that worked out.”
At second doubles, Conestoga junior Raphie Lubiniecki and Pioneer senior Derek Qin defeated SJP sophomores James McAleer and Shawn Rinnier, 6-4, 6-2. Raphie Lubiniecki, the younger brother of Basil Lubiniecki, played second doubles for the Pioneers in the PIAA 3A team tourney last spring.
With the win, Conestoga (15-1), the District 1 3A runnerup, advances to the quarterfinals Friday at the Hershey Racquet Club, where the Pioneers will face Manheim Township, the second-place finisher in District 3, with the match scheduled to start at 11 a.m.
In other PIAA 3A boys tennis team tournament action, Unionville (18-2), the third-place finisher in the District 1 3A tournament, defeated District 2 champion Abington Heights (who carried a 14-0 record into the match), 5-0, Tuesday at the Birchwood Tennis Club in Clarks Summit.
The Longhorns won all five matches in straight sets, including Matt Miller at first singles, Andrew Ou at second singles, Andy Ye at third singles, the first doubles duo of Luke Tierney and Tucker Carroll and the second doubles pair of Brendon Yu and Elijah Yoon.
Unionville advances to the state quarterfinals, where the Longhorns will play District 7 champion North Allegheny Friday at 12:30 p.m. at Hershey Racquet Club.
Downingtown East (16-3), the fourth-place team in the Districts 1 3A tournament, defeated District 11 champion Liberty, 3-0, Tuesday at the Northwood Racquet Club in Easton. Vishruth Madam clinched the victory with a straight set win at third singles. The Cougars advance to the PIAA 3A quarterfinals, where they will play Central Bucks East, the District 1 3A fifth-place finisher, Friday at 9:30 a.m. at the Hershey Racquet Club.
Conestoga 5, St. Joseph’s Prep 0
Singles: 1. Ethan Sun (Conestoga) def. Peter Bae (SJP), 7-5, 6-2; 2. Rohan Rao (CON) def. Connor Kryst (SJP), 6-2, 6-2; 3. Voyan Markovic (CON) def. Ethan Cosgrove (SJP), 6-1, 6-0.
Doubles: 1. Basil Lubiniecki/Francis Qin (CON) def. Matthew Schuenemann/Samuel Seneca (SJP), 6-3, 6-0; 2. Raphie Lubiniecki/Derek Qin (CON) def. James McAleer/Shawn Rinnier (SJP), 6-4, 6-2.
