Belief enables Peters Township girls’ tennis team to achieve
If you believe, you will achieve. The Peters Township girls tennis team adheres to that motto.
The Indians trusted they could earn a spot in the PIAA tournament, and by virtue of their 4-1 victory over Mt. Lebanon in the WPIAL consolation match Oct. 18 at Bethel Park, they are one step closer to a trip to Hershey.
The state team tennis tournament commences Oct. 24 at sites and times to be determined and moves to the Hershey Racquet Club for quarterfinal, semifinal and championship action Oct. 27-28. Shady Side Academy and North Allegheny join Peters Township in the state playoffs from the WPIAL.
“Everything is coming true for this team and all it took was a little belief,” PT head coach Phyllis Derienzo said. “This group has worked hard and has achieved all it has wanted so far.”
The Indians are the first PT girls tennis team to qualify for the state tournament since 2011.
Peters Township shared the Section 4 title with Lebo and Upper St. Clair as all finished with one loss. The Indians beat Hempfield, 4-0, and edged Moon, 3-2, in the opening rounds of the team tournament before succumbing to Shady Side Academy, 4-1, to slip into the consolation contest.
“The team was disappointed in the loss to Shady Side but to come back from that close loss and beat Lebo showed the resilience of my girls,” Derienzo said. “They were ready to play. It was fun to play a rival in the back yard.”
The backyard brawl had the tension of a typical tennis match. Twice teams asked to have their matches officiated. There were long rallies and long matches.
PT prevailed when it outlasted Lebo, particularly in the doubles.
No. 1 doubles, with Nina Derienzo and Grace Salus, sealed the victory with a three-set triumph, 4-6, 6-4, 5-2. The fiesty duo of Bridget Zimmerman and Alexandra Renton took the Indians team to the limit, five times to deuce in the first game of the third set, before Derienzo and Salus opened up a 5-0 advantage.
“I was very pleased with their heart,” said Derienzo, whose daughter was part of that PT pairing. “They never gave up and they were playing a worthy opponent. I was pleased with their calm demeanor. They were consistent and played with courage. You need that when you are playing doubles.”
Tennis needs a strong singles player and PT had one in Kat Wang. The section champion pulled out the victory against Camilla Buch after dropping the first set, 5-7, 6-1, 6-3.
“Kat at No. 1 singles has played so consistently for us and has anchored our team,” Derienzo said. “We couldn’t have done it without her but we couldn’t have done it without everybody else. You can’t underestimate the impact of the No. 2 and 3 singles and No. 2 doubles. It was a great match and it took a tremendous team effort. This team was patient and believe in themselves.”
At No. 2 doubles, Emma Scarton and Isabella Englesberg dispatched Megan Vujevich and Katie Strohl, 6-4, 6-3, while Baylee Sorrell defeated Anna Zak, 6-3, 6-3, at No. 3 singles. Mia Hoffbauer put up a strong showing before falling, 6-2, 6-2, to Lauren Masteller at No. 2 singles.
Hoffbauer and Derienzo were the lone seniors in the lineup. Gianna Ellison and Mia Spergal are the other 12th graders on the varsity.
During the regular season, PT compiled an 11-3 overall record. The Indians developed so much more though, added Derienzo, who crusades for the game.
“The game has treated me well and I want to spread the love to everyone,” she said. “Tennis is a lifelong sport and you can form long-term friendships on the court.
“I know this team’s strength is its camaraderie. These girls love to play the game and they have built friendships because of tennis and winning close matches.
“There is a connection to the court, too,” she added. “They looked like they were having fun and enjoying themselves out there. It was quite an emotional experience.”
NOTES: With the loss, Mt. Lebanon ended its season at 13-6 overall. The Blue Devils were the No. 1 seed in the team tournament.
After beating South Fayette, 5-0, in the opening round of action, Lebo edged Mars, 3-2, but succumbed to North Allegheny, 4-1, in the semifinals played Oct. 17 at North Allegheny.
“Based on strength of schedule, we received the No. 1 seed,” said Paul Skrok, noting the Blue Devils had defeated Shady Side Academy and Moon in non-section action. Moon beat North Allegheny for the Section 3 title.
“NA is just not a good match-up for our line-up,” he added. “We had a good year though and had tied (three-ways) for the section title although we lost to Peters, 3-2, earlier in the season. They, us and Upper St. Clair ended up beating each other. It was a very balanced section and league.”