2008 Woodie Awards
Tennis teams close out regular season strong, gear up for playoffs
Mikaela Reynolds
Issue date: 4/17/08 Section: Sports
The Sacred Heart men's and women's tennis teams both earned victories over visiting Hartford on Friday afternoon. The men swept Hartford 7-0 while the women earned a 6-1 triumph over the Hawks.
Capturing singles matches for the men's team were junior Matt Cook and freshmen Kirill Kasyanov, Cole Conrad, Jinal Shah, and Chris Ujkic.
"The victory on Friday was a good confidence booster for all of us," said Kasyanov. "It's nice to win as a team and it helped us come together."
Cook, Kasyanov, and Conrad each teamed up with partners to record victories in doubles matches, as well. Kasyanov partnered with freshman Nick Mazzarese to win the first doubles match of the day while Conrad and freshman John Harvey claimed the second match. Finally, Cook paired with junior Joseph Lanciotti to seal the final doubles match for the Pioneers.
"Even though we're mostly a young team, we have been holding our own and have really improved our doubles play from the start of the season," said Ujkic. "As a team, picking up the doubles point is crucial for winning our matches. We usually do well in singles, but getting the doubles relieves a lot of pressure."
On the women's side, Sacred Heart senior Brittany Price, sophomore Ashley Amalfe, and junior Jessica Schnell all won singles matches against the Hawks. Schnell later teamed up with freshman Lindsey Scierka to win a doubles match.
Meanwhile, freshman Darcy Demers and sophomore Nicole Betz each captured victories in their singles matches and then teamed up together to win a doubles match.
The final doubles match of the afternoon was won by Sacred Heart junior Mandy Finkelstein and freshman Elizabeth Harrington.
"Overall, I thought we played very well on Friday. Our doubles game has been improving over the last three weeks and it showed once again Friday," said women's coach Mike Guastelle. "We've had a good year so far with a 10-10 record and I expect our team to put up a good challenge for the NEC Championship this coming weekend in New Jersey."
Capturing singles matches for the men's team were junior Matt Cook and freshmen Kirill Kasyanov, Cole Conrad, Jinal Shah, and Chris Ujkic.
"The victory on Friday was a good confidence booster for all of us," said Kasyanov. "It's nice to win as a team and it helped us come together."
Cook, Kasyanov, and Conrad each teamed up with partners to record victories in doubles matches, as well. Kasyanov partnered with freshman Nick Mazzarese to win the first doubles match of the day while Conrad and freshman John Harvey claimed the second match. Finally, Cook paired with junior Joseph Lanciotti to seal the final doubles match for the Pioneers.
"Even though we're mostly a young team, we have been holding our own and have really improved our doubles play from the start of the season," said Ujkic. "As a team, picking up the doubles point is crucial for winning our matches. We usually do well in singles, but getting the doubles relieves a lot of pressure."
On the women's side, Sacred Heart senior Brittany Price, sophomore Ashley Amalfe, and junior Jessica Schnell all won singles matches against the Hawks. Schnell later teamed up with freshman Lindsey Scierka to win a doubles match.
Meanwhile, freshman Darcy Demers and sophomore Nicole Betz each captured victories in their singles matches and then teamed up together to win a doubles match.
The final doubles match of the afternoon was won by Sacred Heart junior Mandy Finkelstein and freshman Elizabeth Harrington.
"Overall, I thought we played very well on Friday. Our doubles game has been improving over the last three weeks and it showed once again Friday," said women's coach Mike Guastelle. "We've had a good year so far with a 10-10 record and I expect our team to put up a good challenge for the NEC Championship this coming weekend in New Jersey."
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