Angie Malik lifts Half Hollow Hills East to Suffolk large schools girls tennis title
Angelina Malik of Half Hollow Hills East returns a volley in fourth singles during the Suffolk girls tennis large schools final against Westhampton at Half Hollow Hills High School East on Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2021. Credit: James Escher
The rest of the matches had ended, leaving the fate of the Suffolk large schools girls team tennis title attached to the rackets of fourth singles players Angie Malik and Emma Way. That fate was locked inside an intense struggle on the Half Hollow Hills East courts.
Way took the first set for Westhampton. Malik countered by taking the second set for Hills East. The teams were deadlocked, and now the third set was deadlocked again, five games won by the senior Way and five by the sophomore Malik.
"When we had to play a third set, it was really tense," Malik said. "A lot of pressure. I honestly like playing with pressure. It motivates me."
Ultimately, a Way return sailed long. Malik won Tuesday’s match, and Hills East won the crown, 4-3.
"I’m so happy," Malik said after her 4-6, 6-4, 7-5 victory, the championship plaque resting in her hands. "It’s just so good."
So after claiming their first Suffolk title since 2015, the 18-0 Thunderbirds will chase their first Long Island championship.
"This is a really big deal for our school," coach Steve Ferrantello said.
Half Hollow Hills East teammates celebrate after defeating Westhampton 4-3 to clinch the Suffolk girls tennis large schools final at Half Hollow Hills High School East on Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2021. Credit: James Escher
Hills East will face Nassau champ Syosset at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Eisenhower Park.
"This team is just an extremely deep team," Ferrantello said of his Thunderbirds. "They’re always having fun … When they go on the court, they execute."
They sure executed in doubles, sweeping the three matches. Leila Curtis and Rachel Neuman, their all-state first pair, won 6-3, 6-0. Ariel Dubler and Alana Zinkin won in second doubles, 6-1, 6-0. And Maggie Wang and Sami Heyman claimed third doubles, 6-2, 6-1.
"We all have really close bonds as friends, too," Curtis said. "We’ve known each other for years and been friends for years. So we have that bond. Knowing that, we’re able to work really well together on the court, too."
Angelina Malik of Half Hollow Hills East reacts after her three-set win over Westhampton in fourth singles in the Suffolk girls tennis large schools final at Half Hollow Hills High School East on Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2021. Credit: James Escher
Sisters Katelyn and Julia Stabile, Suffolk’s champion doubles team, played singles for the Hurricanes (16-2). Katelyn, a senior, won in first singles, 6-1, 6-0, and Julia, a sophomore, won in third singles, 6-0, 6-0. Teammate Matilda Buchen took second singles, 6-2, 6-1. But it wasn’t enough.
"Of course, it’s disappointing because we got so far into the season …" Katelyn said. "Unfortunately, they were the better team, but I think overall we played good."
