Sacred Heart excels at All-Catholics

Deb Matteliano, left, and Emily Rodgers placed second in the All-Catholic doubles tournament on Monday, June 4 at Amherst Hills Tennis Club. The duo earned All-Catholic first team honors. Photo by Joe Eberle Purchase color photos at www.BeeNews.com

Sacred Heart's girls tennis team had a good showing at the All-Catholic championships held May 30 to June 4 at Amherst Hills Tennis Club.

Deb Matteliano and Emily Rodgers, the first seed in doubles, ran through the field but was defeated by Anna Metchler and Kristen Almeter of second-seed Nardin, 4-6 6-7, to capture second place. Matteliano and Rogers were named to the All-Catholic first team.

Kristen Fish, the Sharks' No. 1 singles and No. 4 seed in the singles draw, fought a long and hard road and finished fourth overall in the singles tournament. Fish lost her final match to Rebecca Suchy of St. Mary's of Lancaster, 2-6, 6-4, 1-6.

Kathryn Przybyla, Sacred Heart's second singles player, won a very close and exciting, 6-1 6-1, final match over Katie Bollier of Buffalo Seminary to lock up the fifth place spot.

Fish and Przybyla were named to the All-Catholic second team.

Ashley Illuzzi and Margo Casciano won a match in the doubles draw (6-2 6-4) but lost a tough match with the second doubles seed from Nardin. Courtney Conway, the No. 3 singles player from Sacred Heart, also was awarded and earned a singles spot in the main draw only to be stopped by eventual champion, Beth Bacher of Nardin.

Sacred Heart won a convincing 4-1 match over Buffalo Seminary on May 21 to lock up a first place championship.

In the home match at the Clearfield Recreation Center, Conway won a straight set 6-4, 6-2 match at third singles to complete her undefeated season. Przybyla also delivered at second singles (6-3 6-2) to earn an 11-0 undefeated record.

Matteliano and Rodgers finished the season with only one loss for the season by rolling over the Buffalo Seminary first doubles team, 6-4, 6-1. Illuzzi and Casciano also won their point, 6-2 6-2, at second doubles.

At first singles, Fish lost a highly competitive match in two close sets against one of the best players in the division.

Sacred Heart finishes 10-1.

Coach Steve Insinna thanks all reserves, parents, friends, and private coaches that trained and cheered the team to each victory. Next year's team will have to call upon Nora Balon, Kelly Mroz, Katie Ostrander, Mary Beth Pandolfino, Karen Schuster, Samantha Keyon and Tia Krantz to help continue the Sharks' winning ways, he said.