Camhi tops Herrmann for state tennis title

After Syosset senior Hannah Camhi defeated Garden City eighth-grader Morgan Herrmann, 6-0, 6-0, in the Nassau singles championship match on Oct. 16, neither player expected to see the other across the net again. Monday though, they faced each other for the girls state singles title in Manlius, N.Y.

Camhi, the top seed, beat the unseeded Herrmann, 6-2, 5-7, 6-2, earning her first state title in her third appearance. It was the first time since 2006 that two players from Long Island played in the championship match.

"Finishing with the championship is really special," Camhi said. "Being a senior and having this as my last match in high school was really important and nice to win it."

Long Island players had a strong showing overall. Great Neck South's Nicole Torres topped Suffolk singles champion Nicole Daniggelis from Smithtown East in the singles consolation bracket, and both county doubles champions, Veronika Pakin and Gabriella Leon of Hewlett and Bridget and Mickey Harding of Northport, reached the quarterfinals.

"I'm extremely proud," Nassau girls tennis coordinator Shai Fisher said. "It shows how strong our tennis is on Long Island.''

Camhi was the runner-up in the state tournament last year and was third two years ago.

On her way to the title match Herrmann knocked off the No. 2 and No. 3 seeds in the quarterfinals and semifinals, respectively.

Camhi said Herrmann played much better than when the two met previously.

"I was confident and I thought I'd do better but didn't think I'd be as good as I was," Herrmann said. "It was really exciting because whether I won or not, being first or second in the state is a really amazing accomplishment."