Tennis Busy as Season heads to conclusion, 3-1 on the week

PANTHERS EDGE CARDINALS, 5-4 BUT IRETON TAKES SETON, 9-0, GOOD COUNSEL, 7-2 and HOLY CROSS, 5-4

The Lady Cardinals continue to roll over their opponents on the way to the WCAC playoffs. Coming off their record-breaking win over WCAC champion St. John’s and less than twenty-four hours later, Ireton girls varsity tennis fell short by one to PVI on Friday, October 8 at Carl Sandburg.

Singles play started strong with wins by Monica Zakaria (8-2) at #1 and Natalia Spinetto (8-2) at #5, but one by one the Panthers took the balance of the singles line up after intense court play. Allie Laclede fell (4-8) at #6, followed by Nicole Williams (6-8) at #4, Christy Macey (4-8) at #3 and finally Mary Rose White with a (6-8) loss at #2.

Doubles play began with the match at 2-4, meaning Ireton needed to take all three doubles positions to win the match. Cocaptains and #1 doubles team Monica Zakaria and Nicole Williams set the pace winning (8-3) followed by Juniors team Cristy Macey and Mary Rose White with a win (8-1) at #2. The crowd moved to court 3 where Natalia Spinetto and Allie Laclede fought to win their spot and the match but their PVI opponents overtook them ending in a (2-8) loss at #3.

Despite the loss the Ireton ladies celebrated their effort and look forward to a rematch on October 19 in Fairfax.

NEXT, the Cardinals met Elizabeth Seton on Tuesday, October 12 at Carl Sandburg for a second blowout against the Roadrunners. Singles play was a clean sweep with wins by Monica Zakaria (8-1) at #1, Mary Rose White (8-0) at #2, Christy Macey (8-0) at #3, Nicole Williams (8-2) at #4, Natalia Spinetto (8-0) at #5 and Megan Fyffe (8-0) at #6.
Doubles followed with wins by Monica Zakaria/Nicole Williams (8-2) at #1, Christy Macey/Mary Rose White (8-1) at #2 and Christina Spinetto/Allie Laclede (8-0) at #3.

ROLLING ON to a second match with Good Counsel on October 13 the Lady Cardinals ruled again bringing home a 7-2 win.

Singles play wins by Mary Rose White (8-2) at #2, Christy Macey (8-1) at #3 and Nicole Williams (8-1) at #4, Natalia Spinetto (8-1) at #5 and Allie Laclede (8-1) at #6 took the match for the Redbirds yet more wins followed by doubles teams of Christy Macey/Mary Rose White with a (8-0) win at #2 doubles and Natalia Spinetto/Megan Fyffe (8-3) at #3 doubles.

THE MOMENTUM continued on Monday, October 18 at Carl Sandburg where Holy Cross came to the Cardinal nest for a second meeting ending in a 5-4 win for Ireton.

The match started with doubles play and a first win by team Nicole Williams/Natalia Spinetto (8-5) at #3, quickly followed by Christy Macey/Mary Rose White’s win (8-6) at #2 and a hardfought loss by Monica Zakaria/ Allie Laclede (6-8) at #1.

Singles play began with the match at 2-1 and the Cardinals in need of three more position wins to take the match and take them they did with wins by Christy Macey (8-0) at #3, Natalia Spinetto’s win (8-0) at #5 and Allie Laclede’s (8-5) win at #6. Singles players Monica Zakaria at #1. Mary Rose White at #2 and Nicole Williams #4 fell short at (6-8), (2-8) and (5-8) respectively but the match win was the Cardinals at 5-4.

Bishop Ireton’s lady netters now stand 10-4 in conference play.

The next match against PVI is Tuesday, October 19 in Fairfax.