ARCHBISHOP CARROLL TENNIS TEAM 2024 PCL CHAMPIONS
BY AIDAN TYKSINSKI
(PHOTOS & VIDEOS: AIDAN TYKSINSKI)
SPRINGFIELD, PA--It was deja vu once again for two Philadelphia Catholic League tennis team powerhouses. After last year’s loss to Cardinal O’Hara, Archbishop Carroll went into this season with some extra motivation. Led by experienced upperclassmen, the Patriots made it to the same place they did last year-the championship title match at the Springfield YMCA. And just like last year, it was Carroll versus O’Hara aiming for that coveted plaque.
But unlike last year, it was Carroll who came away with a 4-1 victory. The win was significant for the four seniors and captains on the team; Grace Hoban, Talia Siokos, Therese Laphen and Lucia Indelcato.
“It feels so great. For the last four years, we have been fighting this war, and we finally made it, so we’re just very excited,” said Laphen.
“It’s a great feeling,” added Siokos. While she did not make an appearance in the final, Siokos was the first sub if there was an injury, and was supporting her teammates the entire afternoon.
Carroll Captains (L to R) Grace Hoban, Talia Siokos, Therese Laphen & Lucia Indelcato are elated about the win and talk about their teams determination and goals. (video/ Aidan Tyksinski)
Each match was highly competitive and included some overtime thrillers. In the first singles match, junior Macie Schundler beat O’Hara junior Kayla Stewart in two sets. After losing the first set 6-3, Stewart forced an extra round by tying the score 6-6. Schundler would have no problem with the round, winning 7-1 and making the final score of the round 7-6.
In the second singles matchup, Carroll junior Annette Engle defeated Lions captain, senior Allison Kirby, 2-1. After losing the first set 5-7, Engle came back with 6-4 and 6-3 sets to seal the win. Kirby, whose grandmother, Patty Fitzgerald, is the head coach of the Lions team, will finish her decorated PCL career with four championship appearances and last year’s championship win. In the third singles match, Laphen defeated Busayo Lawal, with 6-4 being the final in both sets in favor of the Patriots captain.
First singles match between Carroll Jr. Macie Schundler & O'Hara Jr. Kayla Stewart.
Second Singles Match between carroll Jr. Annette Engle & Lions Sr. Captain Allison Kirby.
Third singles match between Carroll Sr. Therese Laphen & O' Hara Jr. Busayo Lawal.
While the Lions made each match a battle, Carroll never let the adversity stop their momentum.
“I kept telling myself that I trust my partner Julia (DiCarlo), and I know that she’s going to be good, and I know that we work together well, so I knew it would be okay,” said Indelcato.
First Doubles match partners O'HAra sr. Martha coffey and Jr. Allison Lorenz vs. Carroll sr. Lucia Indelcato and Julia DiCarlo.
Second Carroll Doubles sr. Grace Hoban & Jr. Sabrina O’Conner vs. O'Hara Jr. Gianna Harris & Soph. Marielle Farrell.
That mindset was especially important for the two Patriots in their doubles matchup against O’Hara senior Martha Coffey and junior Allison Lorenz. After losing the first set 6-1, Indelcato and DiCarlo built up a 5-1 lead in the second set, only to see the lead disappear. That set would go into overtime, which Carroll would win 7-5. O’Hara would go on to win the third set 6-2 to win their sole match of the day, 2-1.
Doubles partners, Hoban and junior Sabrina O’Conner outlasted junior Gianna Harris and sophomore Marielle Farrell 6-3 in both sets to give Carroll its fourth victory of the day and clinch the championship.
“We saw it (the trophy) last year, but it’s great to finally know that it’s ours,” said Siokos.