Hopewell Girls Tennis

The Hopewell Girls Tennis Team took on Ambridge Monday in what turned into a marathon match that stretched well over three hours. The final score was 0–5, but you wouldn’t know it from the energy and fight the girls brought to the court. With players stepping into new roles and fresh pairings, there were so many bright spots and takeaways that made this match one to be proud of.

Singles Highlights-

Alana Covalt battled her way through a tough three-set match at first singles. After dropping the opening set 3–6, she bounced back with a commanding 6–2 win in the second. Though she fell short in the third, her powerful shots, sharp placement, and positive attitude were clear strengths. Alana already has her sights set on sharpening her serve for the next match.

Georgia Garber stepped up into the second singles spot for the first time this season and impressed the coaches with her energy and composure. Though she lost 2–6, 0–6, she hustled across the court, kept her feet moving, and connected on several strong shots. It was a tough challenge, but Georgia embraced it with determination and showed true growth.

At third singles, Evelyn Cagnon, normally a doubles player, was thrown into a new role and shined in a nail-biting match. Her scores of 4–6 and 5–7 only tell part of the story—Evelyn’s hustle and positivity made her match one of the most exciting of the day.

Doubles Highlights 

Newly paired doubles team Mackenzie Liston and Cassidy Bellomo took the court together for the first time. Though they dropped their match 0–6, 3–6, the girls began developing their communication and strategy. By the second set, their teamwork was starting to click, and even in a tough matchup they proved they could adjust and rise to the challenge.

At second doubles, Kaylee Wiley and Teagan Scully battled through another nailbiter, falling 4–6, 5–7. Their excellent serves, upbeat energy, and constant encouragement for each other stood out, and the way they meshed as partners was a bright spot for the team.

Team Takeaway-

While Ambridge claimed the win, Hopewell walked away with valuable experience, fresh confidence in new positions, and the knowledge that they can hang tough through long, hard-fought matches. It was a true team effort—over three hours of tennis packed with hustle, heart, and positivity that will carry these girls forward in the season.

Hopewell Township– Monday afternoon, the Hopewell HS Girls tennis team took on Aquinas Academy in brisk, fall-like conditions. Coming right off the first day of school- with the whirlwind of classes, schedules, and everything that comes with it – the Hopewell girls still brought energy and heart to the court in a tough 1-4 loss.

FIRST SINGLES- Alana Covalt fell 2-6, 2-6 against a strong opponent. Covalt battled head-to-head and worked hard to set up her put-away shots. Though they didn’t always land, she’s motivated to keep refining that skill for future matches.

SECOND SINGLES– Claire Sarkis lost 0-6, 1-6. With some shots just a touch off-calibration, she’s already setting her sights on strengthening her serves and backhands before the next match.

THIRD SINGLES– MacKenzie Liston lost 1-6, 0-6, but the score doesn’t capture the way she played. Liston showed great anticipation of her opponent’s shots, fought through long rallies, and made in-the-moment corrections on her forehands, backhands, and serves. Her resilience and court awareness really stood out.

FIRST DOUBLES- Cassidy Bellomo and Teagan Scully dropped a hard-fought 3-6, 2-6 match. They put together some beautiful shots but will focus on anticipating their opponents’ next moves and getting into position even quicker.

SECOND DOUBLES- Georgia Garber and Evelyn Cagnon delivered Hopewell’s win, taking their match 6-4, 6-2. When the games were close, they edged out key points through excellent communication and teamwork. Cagnon especially stood out for her patience and savvy shot selection, which helped tip the momentum in Hopewell’s favor. This match also gave Garber her second win of the season.

Even after a long first day back in the classroom, the girls showed up ready to compete and left it all on the court. With that kind of grit, they’re setting themselves up for great things as the season rolls on.

The Hopewell girls return to the tennis courts on Thursday when they travel to Keystone Oaks.

A big congratulations to Head Coach Brenna Wandel and the Hopewell HS Girls Tennis team as they earned their first win of the 2025 season!

Thursday afternoon, the Vikings defeated Beaver Falls, 5-0- which included one of the longest matches Coach Wandel can remember the girls ever playing.

Here’s a recap of yesterday’s exciting afternoon for this young and developing team:

1st Singles: Alana Covalt came out swinging with a 6-1, 6-2 win, firing off some killer serves and backhands.

2nd Singles: Claire Sarkis kept the momentum rolling at second singles, also winning 6-1, 6-2, with her hard work on recalibrating her strokes paying off beautifully.

3rd Singles: Mackenzie Liston cruised to a 6-1, 6-1 win and even earned compliments from opposing parents for her outstanding sportsmanship.

1st Doubles: Cassidy Bellomo and Georgia Garber battled through a nearly three-hour marathon, rallying back from a first-set loss to take the second set, 6-1. In the third set, they pulled out a 7-6 (7-4) victory in a tiebreaker.

2nd Doubles: Teagan Scully and Kaylee Wiley worked seamlessly together, winning 6-2, 6-3 with strong communication and steady rallies.

Exhibition Play: Evelyn Cagnon picked up a well-earned 6-3, 6-4 win, her first in varsity competition, pulling together everything she’s been practicing and closing out the match with confidence.

After the match, Coach Wandel had this to say to Vikings Sports Now about her team’s performance- “I was proud of the team’s endurance, positive energy, and their ability to make smart adjustments during play- qualities that carried them through to a memorable win. It was the kind of night that reminds you why hard work, grit, and a whole lot of heart are worth it!”

Hopewell (1-1) will return to action on Monday when they host Aquinas Academy of Pittsburgh at 3:30 PM.