Girls tennis: Avon edges Avon Lake for third straight Southwestern Conference title

AVON LAKE — The anticipated showdown between Avon and Avon Lake at the annual Southwestern Conference girls tennis tournament did not disappoint. The tournament title and league crown came down to second doubles Saturday, with the sophomore duo of Ishani Kishorepuria and Julianne Hindman claiming a 6-2, 7-5 decision over Mackenzie Anspaugh and Ava Keller to give the undefeated Eagles their third straight crown. "That was fantastic," Avon coach Eric Korey said of his second doubles team's win. "To see the growth those two have made from the beginning of the season until now, it's unbelievable. Every part of their game has grown from the way they move to their confidence to the way they play together to their groundstrokes. "Watching their progression has been exciting, and I'm excited to see what they're going to do in the next couple of years." After rolling to a 6-2 win in the first set, Kishorepuria and Hindman played from behind the majority of the second set until they broke Anspaugh and Keller to go up 6-5. The Avon duo rolled through the final game to take the set and match. "There was one point in the first set where they thought the ball was in and it was out," Hindman said. "We saw it go out and we called it out. I think that might have thrown them off in the first game, but I think they forgot about it and got their heads into the game, and then we had to do the same thing." "Their serves were just really good and returning them got harder, but we got used to each other's style," Kishorepuria said. "It was different, but we battled back." The Avon top-seeded duo in the second doubles draw reached the final with a 6-2, 6-0 semifinal win over Sofia Faust and Nicole Goal of Olmsted Falls, while second-seeded Anspaugh and Keller stopped Midview's Lydia Szuhay and Olivia Kneisel, 6-2, 1-6, 10-7. The Eagles, who won the regular-season title at 7-0, captured the tournament crown with 38 points, one ahead of Avon Lake. Avon scored with titles at first singles and both doubles and second-place finishes at second and third singles. "It's been this way for three straight years. Every time we play Avon Lake it's a battle," Korey said. "Every single time. Avon Lake brings out the best in us. It's a great rivalry, a friendly rivalry. We cheer for them when we're not playing them, but every time we play it's a nail-biter." The Shoregals collected titles at second and third singles and were second at first singles and both doubles. Midview finished third with 28, followed by Olmsted Falls (23), Elyria (19), Amherst (17), Berea-Midpark (11) and North Ridgeville (seven). "I knew it would be close today," Avon Lake coach Brett Aronson said. "I knew it would largely be against Avon today and I pretty much knew it would come down to second doubles, as well. And I liked our chances. We just have to execute down the stretch. I feel like they picked up their game and got their serves in play and we got a little nervous, started missing some serves and gave up the break and eventually the set. "It was close to going to a third set and I think next year with those doubles partners getting more experience, we can get the edge on them." Top-seeded sophomore Denver Johnson of Avon rolled to her second straight SWC first singles title with a 6-0, 6-2 decision over second-seeded freshman Amber Korey of Avon Lake. Johnson reached the final with a 4-1 (retired) win over Kat Yates of Midview, and Korey advanced with a 7-6 (7-5), 6-2 win over Morgan Truscott of Olmsted Falls. "I knew I was going to win because I've beaten her before," Johnson said. "I knew I was going to get the 'W,' basically. My goal is to keep winning the county tournament and the conference and I'm going to try to go undefeated next year. I went undefeated in the conference, but next year, I want to go undefeated in general." The Eagles got their day started with the doubles team of seniors Natalie Miller and Sofia Marino holding off Leash Hicov and Julianne D'Acunzo of Avon Lake, 6-3, 6-3. The top-seeded Miller and Marino also posted a 6-1, 6-3 win over Elyria's Faith Howell and Priscilla Yrab in the semis, while second-seeded Hicov and D'Acunzo stopped Bridget Moran and Paige Moraco of Midview, 4-6, 6-3, 10-6. "It was a really tough match," Marino said. "We always love playing Avon Lake because they're so tough and always bring their 'A' game. We were really happy to play them in the final and really happy that we won." It was the first conference title for both Marino and Miller. "I feel really great," Miller said. "Coming from a freshman who didn't know how to hit a tennis ball to now is just crazy. I couldn't imagine myself at this point four years ago." Amber Korey's twin sister Autumn, who was the top seed in the second singles draw, rolled through her bracket, scoring a 6-0, 6-0 win over Luisa Vallejo of Olmsted Falls in the semis before downing Avon's Amelia Tomak 6-2, 6-3 in the finals. Tomak took out Amanda Pshock of Midview, 6-0, 6-1, in her semi. "It feels pretty good," Autumn Korey said of her championship. "I worked really hard and my teammates supported me." The Korey twins are the daughters of Avon coach Eric Korey. "It's not often a coach gives his rivals their two best players," he said. "I had my whole family cheering against me today. These days are extremely stressful for me. I can't say I enjoy these days, especially when it's our rival. I'm proud of my daughters. They played so well and have had fantastic freshman seasons. "To be the leaders of a team as a freshman is a tough thing to do. I think the seniors at Avon Lake have done just a great job helping them and I'm really appreciative of that." At third singles, top-seeded Kayla Meier of Avon Lake battled back to take a 4-6, 6-1, 6-3 decision over second-seeded Julia Kacenjar of Avon in three sets. It was the rubber match between the two this year, with Meier taking two of three. "Pretty much every game went to deuce (today) and every game was a grind," Meier said. "After every game, I made sure to reset and focus, and in the end, that worked out for me." Meier wona 6-1, 6-0 over Julie Reitz of Elyria in the semifinals, while Kacenjar took down Rachel Whary of Midview, 6-1, 6-2. "Last year, it came down to second doubles, the county tournament came down to second doubles and it was a close match right down to the wire today," Eric Korey said. "We want to certainly congratulate Avon Lake. They played really well today and I thought both teams played better today than we did in the Lorain County tournament. I'm so proud of my girls for battling it out." Contact Dan Angelo at ctsports@chroniclet.com. FIRST SINGLES — Championship: Denver Johnson (Avon) def. Amber Korey (Avon Lake) 6-0, 6-2; Third place: Morgan Truscott (Olmsted Falls) def. Kat Yates (Midview) retired SECOND SINGLES — Championship: Autumn Korey (Avon Lake) def. Amelia Tomak (Avon) 6-2, 6-3 THIRD SINGLES — Championship: Kayla Meier (Avon Lake) def. Julie Kacenjar (Avon) 4-6, 6-1, 6-3; Third place: Rachel Whary (Midview) def. Julia Reitz (Elyria) 6-1, 6-0 FIRST DOUBLES — Championship: Natalie Miller and Sofia Marino (Avon) def. Leah Hicov and Julianne D'Acunzo (Avon Lake) 6-3, 6-3; Third place: Bridget Moran and Paige Moraco (Midview) def. Faith Howell and Priscilla Yrab (Elyria) 6-2, 6-4 SECOND DOUBLES — Championship: Ishani Kishorepuria and Julianne Hindman (Avon) def. Mackenzie Anspaugh and Ava Keller (Avon Lake) 6-2, 7-5; Third place: Lydia Szuhay and Olivia Kneisel (Midview) def, Sofia Faust and Nicole Gaal (Olmsted Falls) 6-0, 6-0