STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — St. Joseph Hill junior Emily Agushi defeated Notre Dame Academy’s Rachel Lee in the final of the CHSAA individual singles tournament 6-1, 6-1 to claim her first title Sunday at the College of Staten Island courts.
Agushi was dominate throughout the 76-point match barely letting Lee see any daylight. After a quick 2-0 start, Lee hit a couple of winners to lead 40-15 before letting the sudden death game slip away. Up 5-0, Agushi finally had a let up, double faulting twice and committing two errors that allowed Lee to get on the board. However, Agushi broke back at love with a forehand winner and a closing volley to capture the first set in 37 points.
Agushi continued to apply the pressure in the second set giving Lee very few opportunities in building a 4-0 lead in the second set. Lee stopped the barrage in the sudden death fifth game, aided by another two double faults by the Koala. However, that was all the gift giving by Agushi as she romped to the finish line securing the last two games and her first title.
In doubles action, the Tiger tandem and top-seeded Greta Meleleo and Angelina Locicero capped off an impressive season holding off Hill’s Ryan Burke and Michela Conforte in a well-played doubles match 6-2, 7-5 to win the doubles tournament. Meleleo/Locicero started on fire rattling off the first three games before Burke/Conforte settled in winning two of the next three games. Meleleo/Locicero were able to right the ship sweeping the last two games for the first set.
In the second set, it was Burke/Conforte who upped their game moving the Tiger duo around the court with well-placed lobs. The Hill duo built a 5-2 lead before the Tigers mounted an impressive comeback. The Tiger duo faced a couple of set points but were able to even the score at 5-5 with some timely volleys. The last two games saw some excellent play by both teams but the Tiger duo again won the big points to claim the title.
In alternate singles action, Sophomores Hill’s Francesca D’Agostino downed teammate Vera Korshunova 6-4, 6-3 in a well-played match.
SIA’s Yuriko Perpetua topped NDA’s Ava Manzella 6-2, 6-3 for third place and Hill’s Cassandra Trinidad topped SIA’s Simone Feldman 6-3,6-0 for fifth.
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