Westhampton Beach Girls Tennis Looks To Repeat As Suffolk, Long Island Champions

The Westhampton Beach girls tennis team had a banner season last year, winning the Suffolk County and Long Island Championships for the first time in program history with an undefeated 17-0 record. The Lady Hurricanes will try to defend those titles this season, and with a good group of players returning, they will once again be one of the top teams in the county.

Westhampton Beach lost five senior starters to graduation, including Brooke DelPrete and Onalee Batcheller, who made up an All-State doubles team, Emma Bender, an All-County doubles player, Marin Vander Schaaf, an All-County singles player, and Juliet Tomaro, an All-County doubles player.

The team will be led again by returning sophomore Rose Hayes, the defending Suffolk County tournament singles champion, who was All-State last year, as well as senior Rose Peruso, who was an All-County doubles player last year and will likely be near the top of the lineup as a singles player this season. Sophomore Katelyn Stabile, who played fourth singles and will likely play higher in the lineup this year, is another strong returnee. Stabile was a runner-up in the division tournament last year, losing to her teammate Hayes, and she was an All-County singles player as well.

Juniors Helena Jones and Rieve Delisle, a returning All-County doubles team, will likely be the top doubles team for the squad this season. Senior All-County player Jen Curran will play doubles this season again, with a new partner. Juniors Mia Seitles and Madison Lewis, back-up players from last year, will return to varsity and will find themselves in the starting lineup.

Head coach John Czartosieski said he expects East Hampton and William Floyd to field competitive teams in League VII this season, and said within the county, he expects Commack and Half Hollow Hills East will be aiming for a county title as well.

“The goal is to win the division and take it from there,” he said. “With Rose Hayes leading the team, we are still a strong contender for the county because we have a good core of players returning.”

Westhampton Beach was scheduled to open the season with a non-league match at home on September 3 at 4 p.m. against Islip and will visit Sayville on Thursday, September 5, for another non-league match at 4 p.m. before hosting Hills East in a non-league match on September 10 at 4:30 p.m.

The Lady Bonackers had a strong season last year, finishing 8-2 in League VII, 10-2 overall, with their only losses coming against undefeated Suffolk County and Long Island champion Westhampton Beach. East Hampton lost seven players from last year’s team, between graduation and transfer, as Katie and Casey Annicelli both transferred to boarding schools. Juliana Barahona, an All-County second singles player from last season, will move into first singles this year. Kaylee Mendelman is also returning to the team this year.

East Hampton was scheduled to open the season at home against Sayville on September 3 and visit Islip on Thursday, September 5, at 4:30 p.m. for another non-league match. The Lady Bonackers will visit Westhampton Beach for a 4:30 p.m. match on September 11.

The Lady Baymen were winless in League VIII last season, but with only one loss to graduation, head coach Diana Vamvakitis is hoping the team can take a step in the right direction this year. Senior All-League player Brianna Hemmings returns and should be the top singles player, which she was last year, as well as seniors Riley Stotzky and Marissa Kennedy. Juniors Nikola Zastkova, Meghan Brownell, Ivon Campos, Angelina Desiderio, Valeria Ortiz, Kat Reich and Teresa Lauther are all back, while sophomores Alyssa Brandes, Erin Brosnan, Katie Peterson, Ella Stotzky and Gia Teresi will help round out the team. New to the squad this year are freshmen Emily Andrade, Zoey Engeldrum and April Feliciano. Vamvakitis said she expects Hemmings, Riley Stotzky and Kennedy to lead the team this year.

Hampton Bays will host William Floyd in a non-league match on September 9 at 3:30 p.m. and will host Mattituck on September 10 at 4 p.m. to open the League VII season.