Tournament Results

District Girls Tennis Devlin back in states

Oct. 8, 2011, 6:34 a.m. EDT
The Reporter

mcabrey@thereporteronline.com

PHILADELPHIA — While the rematch with Erin Bowsher did not go her way this time, Wissahickon’s Maureen Devlin was still positive following the District One Girls Tennis Singles Championships Friday.

Devlin fell to the West Chester Henderson senior 6-4, 6-2 in the Class AAA semifinals, but the sophomore Trojan still qualified for her second-straight PIAA tournament at the Arthur Ashe Youth Tennis and Education Center.

“I’m happy with the way I played,” Devlin said. “Erin’s a great player. And I played pretty well against her, so it was a good day.”

Devlin — seeded second — claimed one of the district’s four state bids with her 6-0, 6-1 quarterfinal victory over No. 7 Hannah Capponi of Council Rock North. It is the fourth time in five years a Wissahickon singles player has qualified for the PIAA tournament.

“I’m really happy,” Devlin said. “(Capponi is) a great player and I wish her the best of luck in doubles, but I’ m just really proud of myself right now. Two years in a row.”

Bowsher fell to Devlin in three sets in the 2010 district quarterfinals. Friday,

the Henderson senior won the final five games of the second set to clinch a spot in the final.

“I thought I played really well today,” said Bowsher, a first-time state qualifier. “I was consistent, but I knew when I had the opportunity to go for a shot, I definitely took advantage of that and put it away. And I was really happy with how I played.”

Bowsher faces No. 1 Cristina Kaiser of Plymouth Whitemarsh for the district title on Oct. 26 back at at the Arthur Ashe Youth Tennis and Education Center. Kaiser bested Unionville’s Zaina Zaki 6-2, 6-3 in the semifinals.

“I feel really good,” Kaiser said.

“I’m just happy I won and I feel good about myself.”

Devlin and Zaki — seeded fourth — meet in the third-place consolation match the same day.

“I came to districts last year and lost in the second round. So it’s great to go to states this year,” Zaki said.

Hannah Drayton of Harriton — the No. 2 seed —won the Class AA championship with a 6-2, 6-3 win over No. 1 Madison Cohen of Lower Moreland. Both Drayton and Cohen qualified for states.

North Penn sophomore Stacy Chang dropped her first match this season, as the Suburban One League Continental Conference champ — seeded sixth — fell to No. 3 Bowsher 6-0, 6-1 in the AAA quarters.

Chang had beaten Bowsher earlier this year in a pro set at the Phoenixville Invitational, but this time could only grab a game late in the second set.

“She was a lot more consistent and she could make all of her attack shots,” Chang said.

“And today, I missed most of mine. And she didn’t give me a chance to attack.”

Kaiser won the district title and reached the PIAA semifinals in Class AA playing at Springfield (Montco) before transferring to PW. She earned another spotat states Friday — this time in AAA — by defeating No. 8 Chrissy Gaul of Council Rock North 6-3, 6-1 in the quarters.

“I’m excited,” Kaiser said. “I was at states last year, so I’m happy to be back this year. Hopefully, I’ll get (as) far as last year.”

After falling to Devlin in the district second round last season, Zaki earned her first state appearance with a 6-1, 6-2 quarterfinal win over Abington’s Tamara Hass.

“My forehand was on,” Zaki said. “I was doing a lot of directionals. My approach shots were deep and heavy and that worked.”

In the Class AA semifinals, Cohen defeated No. 5 Taylor Nguyen of Sacred heart 6-0, 6-0, while Drayton topped No. 3 Arianne Polatnick of Lower Moreland 6-3, 1-6, 6-1.

District One Girls Tennis

Singles Championships

Friday

Class AAA

Quarterfinals

(1) Cristina Kaiser (Plymouth Whitemarsh def. Chrissy Gaul (Council Rock North) 6-3, 6-1.

(4) Zaina Zaki (Unionville) def. Tamara Hass (Abington) 6-1, 6-2.

(3) Erin Bowsher (West Chester Henderson) def. Stacy Chang (North Penn) 6-0, 6-1.

(2) Maureen Devlin (Wissahickon) def. (7) Hannah Capponi (Council Rock North) 6-0, 6-1.

Semifinals

(1) Kaiser def. (4) Zaki 6-2, 6-3.

(3) Bowsher def. (2) Devlin 6-4, 6-2.

Class AA

Semifinals

(1) Madison Cohen (Lower Moreland) def. (5) Taylor Nguyen (Sacred Heart) 6-0, 6-0.

(2) Hannah Drayton (Harriton) def. (3) Arianne Polatnick (Lower Moreland) 6-3, 1-6, 6-2.

Final

(2) Drayton def. (1) Cohen 6-2, 6-3.

Wednesday, Oct. 26

Class AAA

Final

(1) Kaiser vs. (3) Bowsher

Third-Place Consolation

(2) Devlin vs. (4) Zaki

 

Academy Park’s Courtney Jenkins captures Delaware Valley Tennis Title

SPRINGFIELD — Reggie Day remembers the first time he met Courtney Jenkins as if it were yesterday.

“Someone told me that there was a student who was interested in coming out for tennis, and when I went to meet Courtney, she stood up and could look me in the eyes since she was so tall,” said Day, Academy Park’s tennis coach. “She had an Arthur Ashe (Youth Tennis and Education) shirt on, she shook my hand with the grip of a tennis player and her shoes were beat up (from playing). I said to myself then and there, ‘There’s your No. 1.’”

Click here to read more.

USTA Regional Tournament BG(16s) – July 9-12

Congratulations on reaching the semi-final round:

David Wilczynksi

Congratulations on reaching the round of 16:

Michael Buxbaum
Cristina Kaiser
Levin Lam
Jason Sutker

Congratulations on reaching the second round:

Haley Cohen
Brian Grodecki
Justin Kang
Samuel Kendall
Benjamin Lieb
Vanessa Nommensen
Alexandra Nuzhdin
John Wu

GIRL’S 14’S – SECTIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

Vanessa Nommesen came in 2nd.

BOY’S 16′s – SECTIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

John Wu was a finalist, Kyle Seelig won.  Congratulations!