Girls tennis beat: Collins leads West Islip

Collins is the difference

There are players who change the course of the game, and there are players who change the course of a season.

West Islip's Erin Collins is in the latter group. Collins, a senior, transferred from St. John the Baptist, and immediately made her impact felt.

"She made the difference," coach Kevin Lewis said. "It's so funny how one player can change the dynamic. If I'd gotten a new fourth singles player, it really wouldn't have made a difference."

Collins, who plays first singles, upgraded the entire lineup, Lewis said, and helped the Redmen (14-1, 10-0) clinch the Suffolk League III title for the first time since 2006.

West Islip was also bolstered by Samantha Sienkiewicz, who moved down to second singles and will likely play some doubles in the postseason.

So far, whatever Lewis is doing has worked: WI has won five games by a 4-3 score ("if it's not close, it's not fun," he said). Collins, who received a lacrosse scholarship to the University of Maryland, has been instrumental in the tight wins.

"Erin is incredibly athletic," Lewis said. "She's a defensive more than offensive player. She can cover a tremendous amount of court. She's got the lacrosse background, and she will not let a ball drop without 100-percent effort."