Lady Hawks net win over Ansonia

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Woodland’s No. 4 singles player Lauren Tompkins gave Woodland a 3-1 edge in singles play Tuesday versus Ansonia with an 8-0 win against Christine Quinones. –KEN MORSE

BEACON FALLS — The Woodland girls tennis team scored a solid 5-2 win over Ansonia on Tuesday to even its record at 2-2 on the season.

“The strength of this team is their eagerness to succeed,” said coach Jessica DeGennaro, who returned as the girls coach this year after a two year absence. “They are going out there with a positive attitude and having fun.”

Woodland has a young core of players but they are gaining some worthy experience right from the start.

Sophomore Salma Shitia won her singles match on Monday against Seymour to help Woodland to its first win of the season — a 4-3 outcome over the Wildcats.

Freshman Jenica Bartlett won 8-3 on Monday and sophomore Lauren Tompkins won 8-0 to give the Hawks a 3-1 advantage over Seymour in the singles portion of the match.

Sophomore Ayah Galal and junior Emily Rioux, the No. 3 doubles partnership, have been a consistent pair for the Hawks. The pair’s 8-0 win against Seymour decided the match.

“We are a young team but we are quickly gaining experience,” DeGennaro said.

On Tuesday Woodland’s experience showed as the Hawks came out of singles play holding a commanding 3-1 advantage over Ansonia.

The Hawks’ No.1 singles player Rachel Mariano won her match, 8-2, over Mary Kraynak. No. 2 Shitia followed suit with an 8-3 win over Carina Garcia.

Ansonia struck back as Paige Orlofsky knocked of Bartlett, 8-3, in a battle of No. 3s. But, Woodland’s No. 4 Tompkins gave the Hawks a 3-1 edge with an 8-0 win over Christine Quinones.

Woodland’s No. 1 doubles team of senior Dayna Chucta and junior Liz Martin, the most experienced players on the squad, won handily 8-2 over Linda Adamczyk and Deanna Jiminez to assure the Hawks a team victory.

Gabby Wrobel and Danielle Baxter of Ansonia defeated the No. 2 doubles team of Sydney Christensen and Jesse Erickson by an 8-1 final margin.

The Hawks’ No.1 singles player Rachel Mariano helped Woodland notch a win over Ansonia Tuesday by defeating the Chargers’ Mary Kraynak 8-2. –KEN MORSE

The tandem of Galal and Rioux closed out the match for Woodland with an 8-3 victory over Mae Ehrnfelt and Brisita Crews.

DeGennaro said the team has practiced with the boys team, which has aided the girls in forming a winning mindset.

“The boys won the (Naugatuck Valley League) last year, and I think that kind of attitude is helping our girls develop that kind of mindset,” she said.

Winning the NVL is just one of the goals DeGennaro has in mind for her Lady Hawks.

“I have set some lofty goals this year and feel they are very attainable. Win the division, win the league and make the states,” DeGennaro said. “Setting the goals high will give them something to strive for.”

Woodland doesn’t take the court again until Monday at Wolcott. The Hawks will host Crosby on Wednesday and then finish off next week in Torrington on Friday.