Girls Tennis: John Jay nets a victory on the road at Fox Lane

Charisse Cheung of Fox Lane hits a forehand return in singles match. Fidella Swana smashes an overhead at the net for John Jay. Brenna Ferman of Fox Lane returns serve in doubles match. Miriam Wilson of John Jay stretches for a volley at the net. Jim MacLean photos

By JIM MACLEAN 

The John Jay girls varsity tennis team is enjoying a strong season in the hunt for a possible league championship, and Fox Lane knew it would be a tough test as it hosted the rival Wolves for a Saturday afternoon match on Sept. 21.

The two teams had squared off against each other the first week of the season at John Jay with the host Wolves scoring a 7-0 victory. This time would be another victory for John Jay, but the Foxes made it a lot more exciting playing some strong matches before falling by a score of 6-1.

“Today went well, a good match for us, good rallies, some good games,” said Fox Lane coach Mike Olivier. “Overall, we only won one of the matches, but we had a much better showing than we did the last time against them. We played much better tennis and the girls are having fun.”

John Jay has a talented team with experienced veterans, and the Wolves were ready for the Foxes and played another strong match to secure the victory. 

“The girls are playing really well and we’re having a strong season,” said John Jay coach Julie McCaffrey. “Overall, the girls are improving steadily. It’s a lot of tennis they’ve played, this is their 11th match, a lot of matches in a short time, which is hard because you don’t get a lot of practice time, but they’re really playing well.”

In the victory over Fox Lane, Penny Hill won the first singles match and Lauren Metro won at second singles to lead John Jay to the win.

Charisse Cheung provided the highlight of the match for Fox Lane as she won her match at third singles.

John Jay swept the four doubles matches in straight sets to complete the victory. Sophia Inana and Blinera Tetaj won the first doubles match. Miriam Wilson and Fidella Swana were victorious at second doubles. In third doubles it was Nonie Whalen and Kierstin McCarty teaming up for the victory for the Wolves. Catherine Bari and Lana Rotko won at fourth doubles.

With the win, John Jay stayed in the hunt for a league title as the Wolves have won all their league matches except a pair of tough losses to Pelham and Ursuline.

“Penny Hill has been really strong for us as our number one, even against strong players at the top she pushes them hard and she’s played really well all season,” McCaffrey said of Hill. “We had a really close match against Ursuline and we get to play them again. We lost to Pelham and Ursuline and both matches were very close and we’re still in the hunt and I think the girls can turn it around against them and it will come down to the end.”

Fox Lane is also turning it around and playing a lot better every day, according to Olivier. Cheung was a good example of that against the Wolves as she came through with the victory over Abigail Pevzner after falling to her the first time the two teams played against each other.

The team overall has played stronger since the start of the year as the Foxes scored victories over Eastchester and Carmel last week. Elle Nagelberg leads the Foxes as the number one singles player, with Quinn Barrow at second singles, while Danielle Ades and Kathryn Olivia are at first doubles.

“Charisse had lost to her last time and she wanted to come out strong and she did very well, a good match,” Olivier said of Cheung. “We’ve played some tight matches, so we’re playing better and we’re right there and having a good season.”