Lofty goals for Greensburg Central Catholic girls tennis team

By: HSSN Staff
Saturday, September 8, 2018 | 8:15 PM

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The Greensburg Central Catholic girls tennis team (6-0 overall, 4-0 in Section 1-AA) is counting on three seniors to help defend the section title.

Anna Vitale, Erin Schulte and Claire Hacker play singles.

“We have many new members, but if we work hard at practices and gain match experience, we will have a very competitive team,” Centurions coach Tony Splendore said.

Vitale said she is eager to return to the section singles final, where she placed second to teammate Marlayna Verenna last season.

“The ultimate goal is to be playing (Schulte) for the top spot,” Vitale said. “I also look forward to playing doubles with Erin and working together to get to the section finals.”

Schulte and Vitale share a history.

“I started as second doubles with Anna in ninth grade,” Schulte said.

Verenna and Vitale, the section champions, made it to the WPIAL doubles quarterfinals last season.

Playing doubles so far are sophomores Katie Szekely, Isabella DeRubeis and Ellie Losey, freshman Juliette Steffensen and seniors Krisha Metha and Elizabeth Kiliany.

“We have a completely different dynamic,” Vitale said. “We rely on underclassmen who did not start last year and a few who had not played tennis until recently.

“The section is wide open. We would love to end with a record similar to that of last year.”

Schulte is encouraged by the Centurions’ start.

“This team has the potential to win the section and move on to the WPIALs again,” she said.

The Centurions lost in the WPIAL consolation match last season, missing the PIAA playoffs by one spot. They went 9-0 in the section.

Karen Kadilak is a freelance writer.

Tags: Greensburg C.C.