Port Washington wins third Long Island girls tennis championship since 2017
Port Washington's Dasha Perfiliev returns service during the Long Island large school girls team tennis finals in Bay Shore on Tuesday, November 1, 2022. Credit: Peter Frutkoff
Port Washington was nearly perfect in the Long Island Large Schools girls tennis championship.
The Vikings defeated Harborfields 6-1 to claim their third Long Island title since 2017 Tuesday at Casamento Park.
“To get to the point where we’re the one school left on Long Island is really special,” coach Shane Helfner said. “This is something that they’ll have for the rest of their lives and it’s amazing.”
Port Washington had a strong showing in each match, starting with Dasha Perfiliev’s 6-2, 6-1 win at first singles. Ellie Ross finished her 6-1, 6-0 win at second doubles a few minutes later, before the senior tandem of Katie Kors and Grace Ain took a 6-2, 6-1 victory at first doubles to give the Vikings a 3-0 lead.
Ain and Kors worked like a well-oiled machine throughout their match with Harborfields’ Josie Rudloff and Bella Frangione, winning several impressive volleys.
“We started setting each other up really well and we put away a lot of volleys at the net to string points together,” Kors said.
“If we messed up, we knew it wasn’t the worst thing in the world,” Ain added. “We’d just move on and try to win the next point and a lot of times we did.”
Chloe Fanous and Christiana Kent clinched the victory with a 6-1, 6-0 win at third doubles.
Port Washington’s one blemish came at second singles, as Tori Frangione and Briana Coakley defeated Gaby Sorin and Juliana Johnson, 2-6, 6-2, 6-4 for Harborfields (18-1).
Evie Loewy won 6-2, 6-1 at third singles and Yasmeen Munoz and Isabelle Dibner took fourth doubles, 6-2, 6-2 to finish the day.
Port Washington (13-5) advances to the state semifinals to face Clarence at 11 a.m. on Friday at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.
As eight Port Washington seniors ready to finish their high school careers, they’re hoping to take home one more title.
“They’re a huge part of why our program is where it is,” Helfner said. “It’s extra special to see them go out in their last year with a Long Island championship and hopefully a state title.”
