The Verona High School girls tennis team battled its way through three tough rounds at the Essex County Tournament yesterday, securing one team win and several individual victories.
The day started with 12th-ranked Verona pitted against #5 West Essex. Megan Forest, playing at first singles, forced her match to a tiebreaker but Verona fell to the Knights 0-5.
The loss sent VHS to a consolation round game against Mount Saint Dominic Academy, where the Lady Hillbillies were more successful, coming up with a 3-2 win. Forrest won her match 9-7 and both of Verona’s doubles teams were victorious. Sara Sexton/Gillian O’Donnell (first doubles) won 9-8, (7-3) in the tiebreak and second doubles Chloe Conway/Elyssia Yung won 9-8, (7-4) in their tiebreak. Desiree Meyer lost 1-8 (second singles) and Ashley Baumgard (third singles) lost 2-8.
After that, Verona headed back to the courts against Caldwell. Forest, who has been strong all season, lost 8-9 (4-7) in a tiebreak and Meyer also lost, 1-8. But Baumgard delivered an 8-5 win and Sexton/O’Donnell had an 8-3 victory. Claire Jackson and Katie Hunt were the second doubles team, and they lost 2-8. The final score was Caldwell 3, Verona 2.
