STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — St. Joseph Hill captured the CHSAA Archdiocesan title with an exciting 4-1 victory over Manhattan’s Dominican Academy on Saturday at the College of Staten Island courts.
Hill improved to 7-1 in CHSAA play and 8-4 overall.
Hill had squeaked by in the first meeting vs. DA on Thursday, however, DA was without its second singles player.
Hill got off to a good start with ace Emily Agushi proving to be strong and overwhelmed her opponent 6-0, 6-0 for Hill’s first point.
The good news continued for Hill as an improving Cassandra Trinidad, at second singles, won her first set easily 6-1. However, she found herself in a 4-1 deficit before mounting an incredible comeback, winning six of the final seven Ames, to give Hill a 2-0 lead.
Dominican was able to cut the deficit to 2-1 when its third singles, Gemma Chang, withstood a ferocious comeback from Gabby Zagaja. Chang won a thriller in a third-set master tiebreak 10-5.
From that point all eyes were then focused on the doubles where Hill’s first duo, Ryan Burke and Michela Conforte, triumphed with a surprising 7-5, 6-1 victory over a strong DA team. This was the fourth match in a row where Burke/Conforte obtained the clinching point for Hill.
In the final match of the day, Hill’s Diana Dobrodum and Eva Tkachuk squeaked by 7-5, 7-5 over DA’s Francesca Gray and Eileen Leunvelli.
Hill now ventures to Staten Island Academy on Monday for a match to determine the SI CHSAA champs.