Kennedy girls' tennis team is off to a splendid start

The Kennedy High School girls' tennis team (above) if off to a fast start this spring and recently dominated the Dearborn Heights Crestwood Invitational Tennis Tournament, winning six of eight flights and earning another trophy for the school's trophy case. 

As of this afternoon, the Eagles are unbeaten and have claimed two tournament victories.

Here's the complete story on the team's season before the Crestwood tournament, as told by Sports Writer Shane Preston in the Sunday (April 28) News-Herald Newspapers' girls' tennis roundup:

Kennedy’s torrid start to the 2013 girls’ tennis season gained steam this week with a pair of league wins and a dominating showing at the annual Eagles Quad over the weekend.

Last Saturday, Kennedy earned 23 of a possible 24 points to defeat Dearborn Heights Annapolis (13 points), Redford Thurston (seven) and Ypsilanit (five).

The Eagles crowned champions in all four doubles flights and three-of-four singles flights to rout the competition.

No. 1 Mariah Anselmi and Rachel Carmody, No. 2 Kayla Stevens and Morgan Stamper, No. 3 Jenna Grabowski and Andrea Campbell and No. 4 Kelsey Oliver and Kelsey Sutyak all went unbeaten in doubles play.

No. 1 Hannah Zilka, No. 2 Tiffany Nagy and No. 3 Justus Lee-Cato each won singles flights and No. 4 Haley Mortensen finished third.

(Last) Monday, the Eagles defeated Lincoln Park 9-0.

No. 1 Zilka (6-0, 6-0), No. 2 Nagy (6-0, 6-0), No. 3 Lee-Cato (6-1, 6-0) and No. 4 Devon White (6-0, 6-0) were all victorious at singles.

At doubles, No. 1 Anselmi and Carmody (6-1, 6-1), No. 2 Stevens and Stamper (6-0, 6-0), No. 3 Campbell and Grabowski (6-0, 6-1), No. 4 Mortensen and Oliver (6-0, 6-0) and No. 5 Sutyak and Erin Strausser (8-0) helped complete the sweep.

(Last) Tuesday, Kennedy was nearly as dominant in an 8-1 victory over Roosevelt.

Despite the lopsided score, the Bears forced five three-set matches.

“It could’ve went either way,” Kennedy Coach Seoung Lee said. “Wyandotte’s team was a tough opponent and it was a closer match (than) what the score indicates.”

Kennedy swept singles with wins from No. 1 Zilka (6-2, 6-0), No. 2 Nagy (6-2, 4-6, 6-4), No. 3 Lee-Cato (6-0, 4-6, 6-1) and No. 4 Mackenzie Philips (6-2, 6-1).

At doubles, No. 1 Anselmi and Carmody (7-5, 6-2) No. 3 Campbell and Grabowski (6-7, 6-2, 6-1), No. 4 Mortensen and Oliver (0-6, 7-5, 6-4) and No. 5 White and Sutyak (6-3, 2-6, 10-8) were all winners for Kennedy.

Roosevelt’s Jessica Mantel and Lindsay Cowell earned the lone Bears’ victory at No. 2 doubles 6-1, 6-3).

The Eagles were set to play Carlson on Thursday, but the match was rescheduled due to rain.

Kennedy is 4-0, 3-0 in the Downriver League).

For the newspapers' complete tennis roundup, click here.