Mercy Varsity Tennis (MVT) recently competed in the 2014 Catholic League Championships. The five teams invited to participate in the tournament were: Mercy, Marian, Academy of Sacred Heart (ASH), Notre Dame Preparatory and Regina. On this heated spring morning and afternoon, the MVT team smoked their opponents and got their turn to compete in the finals. Many of the teams split sets and had to play a full third set to determine the winner. In the finals, Mercy played Marian for the win for one through four singles and two through four doubles. Mackenzie Zierau, MVT’s one-doubles competitor, and her partner Clara Pilchak played well in each of their matches.
“We really gave it everything we had,” said Zierau of her and her partner’s effort. “Clara and I played our hardest, worked together and left it all out on the court.”
Zierau and Pilchak played three matches. They had a sweeping 6-0 6-0 win against Regina, but suffered a heart-breaking loss against Notre Dame and against ASH in a third set.
All of the singles competitors won their matches in the finals against Marian. Winnie Karoub played and won against Marian’s number one singles in two sets. This was a great win for Karoub with a tough opponent. Additionally, Kathryn Dunleavy and Bridgette Conniff won their matches against their Mustang opponents.
“I knew going in it was going to be a tough match,” said Conniff, “but I didn’t let my opponent get to me, and that was the key.”
When Mercy played Marian on May 1st Conniff beat her opponent, but it was a close match. Both on May 1st and this past weekend, the match called for a line judge. Nonetheless, Conniff played her game and beat Marian in two sets.
Also, Gillian Toler won her singles match against Marian in the finals. Playing Marian’s four-singles, Toler lost the first set, but she made an impressive comeback. In the second set, Toler tied 6-6 and forced a set tie break. In the end, she won the set tie break and the determining third set.
After the points were tallied, the Marlins ended up second overall, right behind the Marian Mustangs. All the supporters were proud of their players this weekend, especially an elated Coach Joe Stafford.
“We have a very cohesive team this year,” said Coach Stafford. “Each one of these girls is strong both spiritually and mentally, and they are all talented.”
Video: http://youtu.be/