By MICHAEL LETENDRE
STAFF WRITER
WATERBURY – The St. Paul tennis team started the week of April 18 with a clean sweep of Crosby in a 7-0 romp in a Naugatuck Valley League tilt in Waterbury.
It was the Falcons first sweep of the season, pushing the squad’s ledger over .500 on the campaign (3-2).
In the top spot in singles action, the Falcons’ Natasha Kempes zipped up an 8-2 victory over Amber Ruiz while in the No. 2 slot, Tori Kilbourne easily won her match.
Kilbourne’s 8-1 win over Crystal Burke was a big victory while at No. 3; Katie Paulo flipped out a similar 8-1 smashing of Enxhi Taluri.
Finally, to end the singles matches on the afternoon, it was Liv Kilbourne trouncing Egla Hasimllari by an 8-4 final.
The girls in doubles action did not disappoint either, starting with the tandem of Sophia Penisse and Caroline Badel.
The duo battled Soren Potts and Maryem Gad and racked up a 8-6 win.
Then, it was the combination of Brianna Cheng and Mariah Fiscella toppling Leah Calderon and Siaan Potts by a 8-2 push.
Finally, the Falcons’ Grace Carey and Nicole Wroblewski took out Katsdenico Pozo and Kyla Egenberger by a final score of 8-3.
But in another NVL tilt against Sacred Heart on Tuesday, April 19, St. Paul dropped a tough 5-2 decision from Peck Park in Bristol.
For the Hearts, it was the squad’s six consecutive victory.
St. Paul won the top two singles matches of the day while getting swept in doubles play.
Kempes defeated Mary Gryniuk by a 8-1 win while Victoria Kilborne turned back Madison Laferriere in number two action, 8-2.
And then on Wednesday, April 20, the Falcons downed Woodland by a 4-3 score from Peck Park.
It was all about singles action for the locals when Kempes swept Allie Mayne, 8-0, in the top match while Tori Kilbourne downed Amanda Doughney by an 8-5 push.
And Pauloz won in singles as well, turning away Elif Abedin by an 8-1 tilt.
Finally, on Friday, April 22, the Falcons pushed their record to 5-3 with a victory over Watertown, 5-2.
In this one, singles was a clean sweep when Kempes started it all off with an 8-0 thrashing of Mary Zaborowski while Tori Kilbourne defeated Rachel Martineau by an 8-4 final.
Pauloz turned away Elizabeth Rinaldi in the No. 3 position by an 8-4 score and finally, Liv Kilbourne won over Gabby Orsini, 8-3.
The Falcons lone win in doubles action came in the No. 2 spot.
The team of Brianna Cheng and Mariah Fiscella defeated Alyssa Clifford-Christina Barkow by a neat 8-0 score.
- PAUL CATHOLIC 7, CROSBY 0
from Crosby high school, Waterbury
Singles: Natasha Kempes (SP) def. Amber Ruiz, 8-2; Tori Kilbourne (SP) def. Crystal Burke, 8-1; Katie Pauloz (SP) def. Enxhi Taluri, 8-1; Liv Kilbourne (SP) def. Egla Hasimllari, 8-4.
Doubles: Sophia Penisse-Caroline Badel (SP) def. Soren Potts-Maryem Gad, 8-6; Brianna Cheng-Mariah Fiscella (SP) def. Leah Calderon-Siaan Potts, 8-2; Grace Carey-Nicole Wroblewski (SP) def. Katsdenico Pozo-Kyla Egenberger, 8-3.
Records: St. Paul 3-2; Crosby 1-6.
SACRED HEART 5, ST. PAUL 2
from Peck Park, Bristol
Singles: Natasha Kempes (SP) def. Mary Gryniuk, 8-1; Tori Kilbourne (SP) def. Madison Laferriere, 8-2; Colleen Flanagan (SH) def. Katie Pauloz, 8-2; Nellie Drewry (SH) def. Liv Kilbourne, 8-1.
Doubles: Brianna Montambault-Ireland Gilmore (SH) def. Sophia Penisse-Caroline Badel, 8-1; Ava Longo-Nhi Nguyen (SH) def. Madison Shea-Mariah Fiscella, 8-6; Jessica Spillane-Alexa Gallino (SH) def. Lizzy Etter-Nadia Skarba, 8-1.
Records: Sacred Heart 6-1; St. Paul Catholic 3-3.
- PAUL 5, WATERTOWN 2
from Peck Park, Bristol
Singles: Natasha Kempes (SP) def. Mary Zaborowski, 8-0; Tori Kilbourne (SP) def. Rachel Martineau, 8-4; Katie Pauloz (SP) def. Elizabeth Rinaldi, 8-4; Liv Kilbourne (SP) def. Gabby Orsini, 8-3.
Doubles: Julia D’Occhio-Arieta Xhema (W) def. Sophia Penisse-Caroline Bada
l, 8-4; Brianna Cheng-Mariah Fiscella (SP) def. Alyssa Clifford-Christina Barkow, 8-0; Sheila Cirikovic-Charynna Manalo (W) def. Lizzy Etter-Nadia Skarba, 9-7.
Records: St. Paul Catholic 5-3; Watertown 6-2.