Girls’ Tennis Squad Ready For Postseason

By Andy Hutchison

Before Monday’s regular season-ending 6-1 loss to Joel Barlow of Redding, Newtown High School’s girls’ tennis team had reeled off eight straight wins and the Nighthawks have plenty of confidence as they enter into postseason competition.

The Nighthawks carried a solid 12-3 overall record into the postseason, which was slated to get underway with the South-West Conference Tournament’s semifinals on Thursday (after The Bee went to press).

The winning ways this year have been highlighted by No. 1 singles player Christina Ciamarra, a senior, who lost only two matches during the regular season.

In a 7-0 win at New Milford on May 13, Ciamarra prevailed against Katie Neils 5-7, 7-6, 7-6 in a thrilling four-hour match that featured outstanding play by both opponents, Newtown Coach Maureen Maher said.

No. 2 player Lauren Frazzetta also won her match, as did No. 3 player Ale Fuentes, and Maria Biondi at the No. 4 position.

In doubles play, the No. 1 tandem of Megan Loose and Ashley Cech, No. 3 team of Sara Benson and Ayesha Dholakia, and No. 3 duo of Grace Winans and Nicole DeFelice all came out on top.

Against Masuk of Monroe on May 15, Ciamarra and Frazzetta won in the top two spots, and Winans played in the No. 4 slot and came out on top.

Loose and Cech won again in the top doubles position, and the No. 3 duo of Dholakia and Stephanie Roman prevailed in a hard-fought three-setter.

“The girls working together as a team, with their doubles partners — now they’re comfortable in their positions and just gelling together. … They’ve gotten stronger, and stronger, and stronger as the year has gone on,” Maher said of the late-season success.

“Never give up on a ball and try your best — try your hardest every match,” is the advice senior singles player Nicole Vournazos says Maher has given the team and which she takes to heart.

Cech, a senior, said she and her doubles partner have improved with their communication as the season has unfolded. “That’s helped us so much throughout the season,” Cech said.

Cech and her teammates are confident the Nighthawks will have some success in the postseason — be it in the SWC or upcoming state championships.

Following the SWC postseason, the Class L State Tournaemnt begins June 1.

“It’s our senior year. We definitely want to go out with a bang,” Ciamarra added.