D’Aversa, Vahid clinch Nassau team tennis title for Friends
Friends Academy's Morgan Wilkins returns the ball to Alyssa Ghassahian during the Nassau girls tennis team finals at Eisenhower Park on Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2016. Credit: Patrick E. McCarthy
On a cold and blustery day, Friends Academy and Great Neck North met in a rubber match. Not just any match, the Nassau girls tennis team championship.
Great Neck North won the first regular season meeting, Friends the second.
On Tuesday, it came down to fourth doubles. For the Quakers it was Juliet D’Aversa and Parisa Vahid, and for the Blazers Shannon Nassi and Amy Shteyman.
D’Aversa and Vahid won, 6-1, 6-4, earning the winning fourth point of the day and giving No. 2 Friends the championship over No. 4 Great Neck North, 6-1 at Eisenhower Park.
“We played a really hard match [on Monday against Manhasset],” Vahid said. “We were really confident and I think we played well.”
“Played well” stands for “pretty clutch.” The two have played the deciding match “about five or six times,” according to coach Gino Uterano, including the county semifinals against Manhasset.
“We looked at each other and said ‘we need to close this’,” Said D’Aversa.
“We said we needed to win for the seniors and if it’s not for us, then it’s for everyone,” added Vahid. “I think at that point we won the next two games in a row. We just really felt it and it came out the way we wanted it.”
For Friends, Claire Handa, Calista Sha and Morgan Wilkins won in the singles. Partners Marina Hilbert and Grace Riviezzo along with Gabby Bloom and Jackie Walzer won in doubles.
Next up for the Quakers (12-7) is No. 1 in Suffolk, Commack (15-1). They play Wednesday at Burns Park in Massapequa at 3 p.m. in the Executive Cup Match.
According to Uterano, it’s a pilot event that is intended to lead to the Long Island Championship in 2017.
How do these two plan to prepare after two straight days of playoffs?
“Homework,” Vahid shouted
“Eat carbs,” D’Aversa nodded.
“Sleep,” the two said in unison.
