Back-To-Back Titles?

Even with the loss of five players, Westhampton Beach’s girls tennis team is looking to repeat. And with two wins already under their belt, it seems to be on the right track.

The Hurricanes took the league by storm last season, taking down team after team en route to a perfect 17-0 record that brought the district its first Suffolk County and Long Island championship titles.

The loss of All-State doubles duo Brooke DelPrete and Onalee Batcheller, All-County doubles player Emma Bender, All-County singles player Marin Vander Schaaf, and All-County doubles standout Juliet Tomaro will inevitably hit the team hard, especially after Tomaro and All-County doubles teammate Rose Peruso came through with championship-clinching victories in both banner season firsts, but there’s tons of talent returning.

Peruso, a senior; All-State sophomore Rose Hayes, the defending Suffolk County singles tournament champion; and All-County sophomore Katelyn Stabile, who was at fourth singles last season, and lost to Hayes in the division tournament finals, all rejoin the roster this season.

Leading the doubles lineup will be returning All-County juniors Helena Jones and Rieve Delisle. Senior All-County doubles player Jen Curran will be looking for a new partner after hers graduated, and that role could be filled by one of two juniors, Mia Seitles or Madison Lewis, alternates on last year’s team that made the cut this time around.

Westhampton topped Islip 5-2 in the nonleague home opener September 3, and was led by Hayes, who defeated Ava Delisle 6-0, 6-0 at first single. In a nonleague 7-0 blanking at Sayville September 5, Stabile swept Abby Breen, 6-0, 6-0 at second singles.

desiree@indyeastend.com