Norwich tennis claims fifth consecutive division championship on senior night
Frank Speziale Photo
NORWICH – The Norwich varsity girls tennis team has accomplished one of their seasonal goals, when they took a decisive fourth point for their own, defeating Chenango Forks 4-3.
“We wanted number five and we got it,” said Norwich head coach John Stewart.
The home match against the Blue Devils of Chenango Forks, on Oct. 3, not only marked the day they took the division championship but also marked the 2016 season's senior recognition night as well. Norwich's four seniors – Cierra Sherman, Samantha Gage, Makenzie Maynard, and Brooke Steigerwald – each were recognized prior to the start of the match.
The decisive fourth set that clinched the match for the Tornado girls came off a straight set win of 6-2, and 6-3 as Caroline Stewart landed the win over Hannah Benscoter.
However, to reach the 3-3 match tie prior to taking the 4-3 win, Norwich relied on both doubles and singles play to handle the Blue Devils.
Winning the first set for Norwich, reaching the tie, was second doubles for Norwich – Ava Granquist and Olivia Granquist who defeated CFs Mollie Elder and Sarah Simonis in straight sets at 6-4, and 6-1.
Also winning on the day in straight sets was senior Samantha Gage at third singles. Gage's two year overall record at third singles now stands at 23-2 following the senior night win where she defeated Colleen Samsel at 6-1, and 6-3.
“Sam played really well on her final appearance on the Norwich courts, finishing the regular season 11-1 is really impressive,” said coach Stewart.
Also winning on the night for Norwich was the duo of senior, Brooke Steigerwald and Megan Burke who easily won in straight sets – at the first doubles spot – finishing the 2016 season with an 11-1 record as well.
Steigerwald and Burke defeated Kaycee George and Isabella Rullo by a score of 6-2, and 6-1.
Norwich senior Makenzie Maynard fell victim to Section IV star Cassandra Pinataro at first singles for Norwich. Maynard would lose by a score of 6-0, and 6-0.
Also suffering a loss on their senior night was Cierra Sherman at fourth singles. Sherman battled with Fork's Gianna Rullo, taking the match to three sets before losing 4-6, 6-4, and then 10-7.
“Cierra Shermen losing in a tough three set match on her senior night, and Makenzie Maynard losing in straight sets to arguably the best singles player in section IV,” explained coach Stewart.
The Blue Devils final win on the day came when Violetta Maystruk and Victoria Garcia earned the win at third doubles over Norwich's Riley Marsh and Natalie Bennati. In the loss, Marsh and Bennati took the first match to a third set tie-breaker much as Sherman had with scores of 6-3, 4-6, and 10-5.
“I was really proud of the girls tonight, we went out and played some of the best tennis of the season when we had to. Even the girls that lost tonight played really well and took the Forks girls to three sets,” said coach Stewart. “Five time division champs is really an awesome accomplishment.”
Norwich (10-1 overall) now awaits seeding for sectionals as well as other Section IV match-ups to be completed, determining who they will play next. More information will be provided in a later edition of The Evening Sun when the information is made available.
“Now on to the post-season,” said coach Stewart.
NORWICH – The Norwich varsity girls tennis team has accomplished one of their seasonal goals, when they took a decisive fourth point for their own, defeating Chenango Forks 4-3.
“We wanted number five and we got it,” said Norwich head coach John Stewart.
The home match against the Blue Devils of Chenango Forks, on Oct. 3, not only marked the day they took the division championship but also marked the 2016 season's senior recognition night as well. Norwich's four seniors – Cierra Sherman, Samantha Gage, Makenzie Maynard, and Brooke Steigerwald – each were recognized prior to the start of the match.
The decisive fourth set that clinched the match for the Tornado girls came off a straight set win of 6-2, and 6-3 as Caroline Stewart landed the win over Hannah Benscoter.
However, to reach the 3-3 match tie prior to taking the 4-3 win, Norwich relied on both doubles and singles play to handle the Blue Devils.
Winning the first set for Norwich, reaching the tie, was second doubles for Norwich – Ava Granquist and Olivia Granquist who defeated CFs Mollie Elder and Sarah Simonis in straight sets at 6-4, and 6-1.
Also winning on the day in straight sets was senior Samantha Gage at third singles. Gage's two year overall record at third singles now stands at 23-2 following the senior night win where she defeated Colleen Samsel at 6-1, and 6-3.
“Sam played really well on her final appearance on the Norwich courts, finishing the regular season 11-1 is really impressive,” said coach Stewart.
Also winning on the night for Norwich was the duo of senior, Brooke Steigerwald and Megan Burke who easily won in straight sets – at the first doubles spot – finishing the 2016 season with an 11-1 record as well.
Steigerwald and Burke defeated Kaycee George and Isabella Rullo by a score of 6-2, and 6-1.
Norwich senior Makenzie Maynard fell victim to Section IV star Cassandra Pinataro at first singles for Norwich. Maynard would lose by a score of 6-0, and 6-0.
Also suffering a loss on their senior night was Cierra Sherman at fourth singles. Sherman battled with Fork's Gianna Rullo, taking the match to three sets before losing 4-6, 6-4, and then 10-7.
“Cierra Shermen losing in a tough three set match on her senior night, and Makenzie Maynard losing in straight sets to arguably the best singles player in section IV,” explained coach Stewart.
The Blue Devils final win on the day came when Violetta Maystruk and Victoria Garcia earned the win at third doubles over Norwich's Riley Marsh and Natalie Bennati. In the loss, Marsh and Bennati took the first match to a third set tie-breaker much as Sherman had with scores of 6-3, 4-6, and 10-5.
“I was really proud of the girls tonight, we went out and played some of the best tennis of the season when we had to. Even the girls that lost tonight played really well and took the Forks girls to three sets,” said coach Stewart. “Five time division champs is really an awesome accomplishment.”
Norwich (10-1 overall) now awaits seeding for sectionals as well as other Section IV match-ups to be completed, determining who they will play next. More information will be provided in a later edition of The Evening Sun when the information is made available.
“Now on to the post-season,” said coach Stewart.
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