Mike Vukovcan 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.
