UC tennis team scores big win over previously undefeated Cranford
In a thrilling matchup between two evenly matched teams, the Union Catholic girls' tennis team edged previously undefeated Cranford by a score of 3-2 on Friday afternoon at Kramer Manor Park in Scotch Plains.
The Vikings are now 3-2 while Cranford dropped to 3-1..
The meet was a tug-of-war between strong singles play and doubles firepower, with Cranford taking two of three singles matches, while Union Catholic swept both doubles matches and captured a key win at third singles to clinch the team victory.
At first singles, Cranford's Ellie Queenan continued her impressive season, with a straight sets win, 6-3, 6-3. In a dramatic battle at second singles, Cayla Reilly pulled off a gritty comeback for Cranford. After dropping the first set 3-6 to Elizabeth Adegboyega, Reilly rallied to win the second set 6-4, then edged out Adegboyega in a nail-biting super tiebreaker, 12-10, securing Cranford's second point of the day. Union Catholic answered swiftly at third singles, where Ella Moritz dominated Cranford's Emma Niblock in a commanding 6-0, 6-1 victory. Moritz's powerful baseline game and aggressive returns set the tone and
Doubles domination sealed the win for Union Catholic
At first doubles, the team of Sonia Allen and Caroline Cleaveland proved too much for Cranford's Alyssa Dolgov and Abby Folvik, cruising to a 6-4, 6-1 win. Allen and Cleaveland displayed sharp net play and cohesive teamwork to put the Vikings ahead.
The victory was clinched at second doubles, where Bella Rose Lin and Dulce De Ocampo delivered a decisive performance, dispatching Sophie Botsakos and Charlotte Bange in straight sets, 6-4, 6-0. Lin and De Ocampo controlled the tempo from the outset, using deep returns and quick volleys to overwhelm their opponents.
