Mount tennis quiets 'Canes, climbs to 5-0 record

by Tom Utescher
Posted 10/27/20

The tennis team at Mount St. Joseph Academy ran its record to 5-0 on October 19, registering a 5-0 victory over visiting Villa Maria Academy.

The Magic's season had opened on the birthday of …

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Mount tennis quiets 'Canes, climbs to 5-0 record

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The tennis team at Mount St. Joseph Academy ran its record to 5-0 on October 19, registering a 5-0 victory over visiting Villa Maria Academy.

The Magic's season had opened on the birthday of sophomore Dylan Conroy (second singles), and last Monday's match with the Villa Hurricanes happened to fall on the birthday of Mount head coach Joy Grafenstine.

On the court, Conroy engaged in the only one of the five bouts to reach a third set. She actually was not far from defeat as she lost the first set to Villa visitor Kylie Kromenaker and then fell behind 2-5 in the second.

Getting her racquet a little too high up on the ball, the MSJ sophomore had been hitting a number of forehand strokes into the net. Conroy cut down on these mistakes as she fought back to claim the second set, 7-5, and then went on to take the third at 6-1.

At first singles, Hurricanes number one Monica Morys varied her ball placement nicely, but Mount senior Grace Walker was able to chase almost everything down, winning 6-1, 6-2. Another Magic senior, Rachel Zilligen, was playing in the third singles flight, where she produced scores of 6-0, 6-3, to overcome Villa's Amanda Seneca.

Since Conroy's second singles contest would be the last match to finish, sophomore Beth Murray and junior Shanele Tamulevicius helped Mount St. Joe's clinch the team victory when they wrapped up a 6-1, 6-1 win at first doubles.

After Zilligen had finished up on the adjacent court, the Mount sent out its second doubles duo of senior Nancy Mabry and junior Leah Scott. These Mounties faced a brace of Ellas, and won two 6-1 sets over visitors Ella Kennedy and Ella Curran.

Although Mount St. Joseph has dispatched most of its Catholic Academies opponents by 5-0 team scores, the team's encounter with Merion Mercy Academy was closer. Strong singles players for the Golden Bears captured the top two solo flights, but the Magic prevailed elsewhere to carry the day, 3-2. The Mounties are favored to win their sixth straight Athletic Association of Catholic Academies championship in their sixth season under Coach Grafenstine.