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.”
![Cape senior Rachel Ramjattansingh won her first set against Sussex Academy senior Sienna Tunnell 6-3 in the second-singles match but lost the next two.](/sites/capegazette/files/2024/04/field/image/ARM_5091.jpg)
![Seahawks sophomore Karika Lopez watches her serve during the first-singles match against Vikings freshman Abby Hazzard.](/sites/capegazette/files/2024/04/field/image/ARM_5096.jpg)
![Vikings junior Katie Costello gets her racket on the ball as teammate Kyli Doyon-Baridon looks over during the first-doubles match.](/sites/capegazette/files/2024/04/field/image/ARM_5208.jpg)
![Cape freshman Abby Hazzard was complimented by Sussex Academy coach Rich Lichtenwalner for her winning performance in the first-singles match.](/sites/capegazette/files/2024/04/field/image/ARM_5211.jpg)
![Sussex Academy senior Callie Juliano gets her racket on the ball during the second-doubles match, won by the Seahawks 6-2, 7-5.](/sites/capegazette/files/2024/04/field/image/ARM_5287.jpg)
![Seahawks junior Ana Nino helps her second-doubles team pick up a point for Sussex Academy in its 4-1 victory.](/sites/capegazette/files/2024/04/field/image/ARM_5291.jpg)