GIRLS TENNIS: Abington Heights’ Arp pulls out thrilling win to clinch victory over Scranton Prep – Scranton Times-Tribune

NEWTON TWP. – As the sun started to set and the shade of dusk crept over the tennis courts at the Abington Heights middle school, the eerie scene did not unnerve Kate Arp or Adithi Velaga.

The two players faced off at No. 2 singles, but they were the main focus.

All four other matches between girls’ tennis powerhouses Abington Heights and Scranton Prep concluded. The overall team score was deadlocked at 2-2.

A deafening hush fell over the crowd of teammates, fans, and family that gathered to watch and support the athletes. They each countered the pressure with poise and patience, each waiting to either strike for a winner or force an opponent’s error.

Back and forth they traded shots, some high and deep, others crafty and short. With every swing, the tension and drama mounted.

Finally, during a grueling third-set duel, Arp found enough energy to finish, closing out an exhausting tiebreaker to win 7-6 (4). That secured a rally by the Lady Comets’ sophomore in a 6-7 (7), 6-3, 7-6 (4) victory. It also clinched a 3-2 win on Wednesday, snapping Scranton Prep’s Lackawanna League winning streak at 62 matches.

It also sets the stage for the rematch. Abington Heights plays at Scranton Prep, the reigning PIAA Class 2A champion, on Sept. 25.

“I just wanted to do it for my team,” Arp said. “She is a really great player and never gave up. It was a really great match. I tried to keep the rally going and tried to force her into an error. Not a lot of my shots were working because I was super tired. I tried to keep the ball in play.”

It was a thrilling conclusion for Arp and her family. Her mother, Kelly, is the head coach. The last time that Abington Heights defeated Scranton Prep, her older sister, Susan, earned the deciding point with a win at No. 3 singles in her freshman season.

This showdown put the spotlight on the dual-sport athlete, who is also on the girls’ golf team.

She played with poise, and despite several match-point opportunities denied by Velaga, Arp stuck with her game plan.

When the over three-hour match ended, the Lady Comets teammates stormed the court to celebrate.

“It didn’t feel real,” Arp said. “I had like four match points that I didn’t win. It was such a relief for it to be over.

“I am just incredibly grateful for the opportunity to play.”

Scranton Prep took the early lead when No. 1 singles senior Lily Lengyel posted a straight-set win over Addie Stark, 6-1, 6-1.

Abington Heights drew even when Amishi Amit, a returning All-Region player, defeated Hannah LaCoe at No. 3 singles, 7-5, 6-2.

“We all really wanted this win,” Amit said. “We have lost to Scranton Prep for like five years now. We just told ourselves not to think too much about it. We literally had nothing to lose. We didn’t think too much about the scores. We played to have fun.”

Abington Heights’ No. 1 doubles team, Sammy Rosenstein-Margot Rubner, defeated Sage Michel-Donatella DeNaples, 6-0, 6-1. Scranton Prep countered with a win by Grace James-Mia Bovani over Anna McVety-Rebecca Rothwell, 6-2, 6-4, in No. 2 doubles, setting up the finish between Arp and Velaga.

Singles: Lengyel (SP) over Stark, 6-1, 6-1. Arp (AH) over Velaga, 6-7 (7), 6-3, 7-6 (4). Amit (AH) over LaCoe, 7-5, 6-2; Doubles: Rosenstein-Rubner (AH) over Michel-DeNaples, 6-0, 6-1.  James-Bovani (SP) over McVety-Rothwell, 6-2, 6-4; Records: AH 7-0, SP 3-1.

Wallenpaupack 4, Holy Cross 1: At Wallenpaupack, Olivia Kogan and Addy Ezzo won singles matches, leading the Lady Buckhorns to a win over Holy Cross in a Division I match.

Jennifer Azzarelli won a singles match for Holy Cross.

Singles: Kogan (WAL) over Mace, 6-2, 7-5. Ezzo (WAL) over Urban, 6-0, 6-0. Je. Azzarelli (HC) over Lopes-Torres, 1-6, 6-1, 11-9; Doubles: Spritzler-Petroski (WAL) over Jes. Azzarelli-Polishan, 6-0, 6-1. Golshiraz-Jensen (WAL) over Villano-Zhang, 6-0, 6-3; Records: WAL 4-3, HC 2-3.

Delaware Valley 3, Valley View 2: At Valley View, Josephine Lordi and Avarie Balogh won at No. 2 and No. 3 singles, leading the Lady Warriors to a Division I win.

Coral Kelly won at No. 1 singles for Valley View.

Singles: Kelly (VV) over Stickler, 5-7, 6-1, 6-3. Lordi (DV) over Cole, 6-0, 6-0. Balogh (DV) over Ritzco, 6-0, 6-4; Doubles:Weimer and Schmitz-Schunken (DV) over Anderson-Wynn, 6-2, 6-3. Minor-O’Shea (VV) over Prinzing-Romeo, 6-4, 6-4; Records: DV 2-3, VV 0-6.

Montrose 5, Western Wayne 0: At Western Wayne, Cara Evans, Anna Evans, and Erin Tillotson did not lose a game, sweeping the singles matches in a Division II win.

Singles: C. Evans (MON) over McClure, 6-0, 6-0. A. Evans (MON) over Fischer, 6-0, 6-0. E. Tillotson (MON) over Spewack, 6-0, 6-0; Doubles: A. Tillotson-Giannone (MON) over Owens-Fox, 6-0, 6-1. K. Schell-O. Schell (MON) over Persaud-Forgione, 6-2, 6-0; Records: MON 6-0, WW 1-5.

Honesdale 3, Riverside 2: At Honesdale, Irene Smith won No. 2 singles, and the Lady Hornets won both doubles matches, with Sophia Bond and Olivia Blundell winning at No. 1, and Surie MacDonald and Elise Foley winning at No. 2.

Sadie Fanning and Kiara Castillo had singles wins for Riverside.

Singles: Fanning (RIV) over Murray, 6-3, 6-3. Smith (HON) over Reynolds, 6-2, 6-2. Castillo (RIV) over E. Bond, 7-6 (6), 6-1; Doubles: S. Bond-Blundell (HON) over Koza-Barnett, 7-5, 3-6, 6-4. MacDonald-Foley (HON) over Telipski-Fox, 6-3, 6-1; Records: HON 5-1, RIV 3-2.

West Scranton 4, Mid Valley 1: At West Scranton, Nicolle Carvalho and Zooey Bryson won their first varsity match at No. 2 doubles, leading the Lady Invaders to a Division II win.

Marissa Shafer closed the match with a three-set win at No. 2 singles for West Scranton.

Regan Buranich won at No. 1 singles for Mid Valley.

Singles: Buranich (MV) over Pugliese, 6-1, 6-1. Shafer (WS) over Fazio, 3-6, 6-2, 6-2. Heffron (WS) over Woodall, 6-4, 7-6 (4); Doubles: Armstrong-Deeley (WS) over Heron-Witzke, 6-2, 7-5. Carvalho-Bryson (WS) over McHugh-Schuler, 6-1, 4-6, 10-2; Record: WS 5-2, MV 3-4.

Scranton 5, Dunmore 0: At Dunmore, Dean Edwards and Lucy Bergman had singles wins, leading the Lady Knights to a Division II win.

Singles: Edwards (SCR) over Novak, 6-0, 6-0. Bergman (SCR) over Cuchara, 6-0, 6-0. P. Patel (SCR) by forfeit; Doubles: Hoffman-N. Patel (SCR) over Biswa-Bonavoglia, 6-2, 6-0. MacDonald-Tedder (SCR) by forfeit; Records: SCR 2-4, DUN 0-7.