John Jay nets shutout win over Fox Lane in girls tennis

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From left, Ryla Krulik hits a backhand volley in her win at third singles for John Jay; Fox Lane's Sammi Saldutti follows through on a backhand return; Sophie Inana returns serve with a backhand for John Jay. JIM MACLEAN PHOTOS

By JIM MACLEAN 

Darkness descended on the courts and the match had to be called before the final match could be finished as several matches went deep into the evening when the John Jay girls varsity tennis team hosted Fox Lane on Thursday, Oct. 1.

In the end it was a convincing 6-0 victory for John Jay as the Wolves rolled on, but they had to work hard for the win over the Foxes with a lot of close matches.

“Tonight there were some solid matches, some very competitive tennis,” explained John Jay coach Julie McCaffrey. “We won 6-0, but there were a lot of good matches and they get better when the matches are competitive. They played well and battled to the end. We had two tiebreakers, the first and second doubles were close to the end. We didn’t have our number one singles or one of our number one doubles, so everyone had to step up and they all rose up beautifully. They stepped up a spot and everyone played really well.”

Sophie Inana stepped up to play number one singles and she won a thriller over Quinn Barrow by the score of 7-6, 6-2. Amanda Popescu won at second singles by a score of 6-1, 6-1, for the Wolves against Marissa Wachs. At third singles, Ryla Krulik scored a 6-3, 6-4 win over Sammi Saldutti.

In doubles action, the John Jay duo of Virginia Farrell and Monica Popescu worked hard for a 6-4, 7-6 win over Anya Borelli and Alice Levine of Fox Lane.

Charlotte Ball and Ray Maex teamed up for a hard fought 6-4, 7-5 win over Ari Davidson and Avery Stark at second doubles. In third doubles, Arianna Moore and Samara Wysmuller of John Jay scored a 6-2, 6-2 win over Emily Fishkin and Aela Mannion. And at fourth doubles, John Jay’s Adela Buri and Kathryn Becker held a 6-2, 5-4 lead over Ana Kwalwasser and Shannon Noone when the match had to be called due to darkness.

Fox Lane bounced back in its next match as the Foxes went on the road to Somers on Saturday, Oct. 3, and the Foxes scored a 5-2 win over the Tuskers.

Barrow cruised to victory at first singles by the score of 6-0, 6-0. Sophia DeSimone scored a 6-0, 6-1 win for Fox Lane at second singles, and Wachs completed the sweep of the singles matches with a 6-4, 7-5 win at third singles.

At first doubles, Levine and Stark teamed up for a 6-1, 6-2 win for the Foxes, and Mannion and Saldutti were victorious at second doubles with a 7-5, 6-1 victory to help Fox Lane close out the 5-2 win.

John Jay followed up the win over Fox Lane with a pair of victories over White Plains and New Rochelle as the Wolves improved to 11-2 overall on the season heading into the final week of the regular season.

At White Plains on Friday, October 2, John Jay cruised to a 7-0 victory over the Tigers.

Amanda Popescu won 8-1 at first singles. Krulik won 8-3 at second singles, and Maex scored an 8-0 win at third singles.

Julia Kolano and Monica Popescu teamed up for an 8-4 win at first doubles. Ball and Becker dominated for an 8-1 win at second doubles, while Adela Buri and Arianna Moore scored an 8-2 win at third doubles.

At New Rochelle on Oct. 5, John Jay showcased its depth as the Wolves won all four doubles matches and came home with a 5-2 win.

Amanda Popescu won at third singles for John Jay in a thriller by the score 6-1, 3-6, 10-7 in the tiebreaker.

In doubles, Kolano and Farrell teamed up for a 6-4, 6-2 win at first doubles. Krulik and Monica Popescu scored a 6-1, 6-1 win at second doubles. Ball and Maex won at third doubles with an 8-4 score, while Wysmuller and Moore won at fourth doubles by the score of 8-2.

John Jay and Fox Lane will now wait to see who qualifies to compete in the individual Section 1 tournament for singles and doubles that starts on Saturday, Oct. 10, and finishes on Tuesday, Oct. 13. The Section 1 team tournament will get under way Oct. 17.