Sussex Academy serves up a 4-1 victory over Cape

The girls' tennis teams at Sussex Academy and Cape came into their April 15 match in Georgetown undefeated in conference play. The Seahawks remained unblemished in the Henlopen following a 4-1 victory.

“I thought that it was a pretty even matchup from both teams, and it was some fierce competition,” Sussex Academy coach Rich Lichtenwalner said. “Cape’s girls played very well, and it was a great fight from both teams.”

In the first-singles match, Vikings freshman Abby Hazzard secured Cape’s lone point by defeating Sussex Academy sophomore Karina Lopez 6-4, 6-1. Cape coach Rich Rasa thinks the freshman has the tools to be very successful.

“Abby is a very determined and patient player, and knows how to make course corrections,” Rasa said. “I think that was key in her match against Sussex Academy.”

A pair of seniors battled it out to three sets at second singles. Cape’s Rachel Ramjattansingh took the first set 6-3, but Sussex Academy’s Sienna Tunnell stormed back to take the second set 6-3 and third set 6-4.

Third singles was also a battle of experience, as Vikings senior Sia Patel took on Seahawks senior Cate Reilly. The victor was Reilly, 6-1, 7-5.

First-doubles team Sage Tunnell and Sumita Halder and second-doubles duo Ana Nino and Callie Juliano swept the paired matches for the Seahawks. Taking on Cape’s Kyli Doyon-Baridon and Katie Costello, Tunnell and Halder won 6-4, 6-4. A pair of DiSabatinos – Julia and Mya – came close to forcing a third set after dropping the first set 6-2 in second doubles, but they were upended 7-5 by Nino and Juliano.

“Sussex Academy is a very good team, and all our players were in every match,” Rasa said. “The scores were very close, and I felt that it could have gone either way, which is what I define as a good match.”