Young Bayport-Blue Point girls tennis squad shows it belongs at top of Suffolk Small Schools
Emilia Romano of Bayport-Blue Point reacts after winning a point in first singles during a victory against Hills East on Thursday. Credit: James Escher
The Bayport-Blue Point girls tennis program is experiencing a youth movement. And though the season is only days old, the Phantoms look all the better for it.
When practice started approximately two weeks ago, Freshman Ella Little and eighth-graders Jordana Heller and Leila Rogers were looking to crack the varsity of the three-time defending Suffolk Small Schools champs and, maybe, make a mark.
In the days since, all three not only made the team but also earned spots in a starting lineup that includes 2023 Newsday All-Long Island sister Emilia and Evie Romano. And now all three have contributed to team victories over the two schools that played in the Suffolk Large Schools title match last season.
Heller won a three-set marathon at third singles and Little and Rogers teamed up for a straight-set victory at third doubles as the Phantoms followed Tuesday’s win over Westhampton with a 5-2 non-league triumph over host Half Hollow Hills East on Thursday.
“All three of them have adjusted to high school tennis well and earned the spots they play in,” said sophomore Lily Castka, who posted a 6-3, 6-3 win at second singles. “There has to be a lot of pressure to be joining a team that has done as well as we have and they’ve handled it. Even at practice they were stepping up against (returning) varsity girls, hitting with us and sometimes beating us.”
“The seniors — the ones who start as well as the ones who don’t — as well as (former) coach (Keith) Scharf have created a culture that young players want to be part of,” Phantoms first-year coach John Selvaggio said. “They see the expectations and they want to win.”
Bayport-Blue-Point (2-0) swept the singles with Emilia Romano winning, 6-1, 6-3, at the top and Heller outlasting Hills East’s resourceful Kate Holland, 6-3, 6-7 (4), 1-0 (7) at third singles.
Junior Danielle Oleksiak made big plays at the net and senior Leah Richardt was consistent with her first serve in a 6-3, 6-4 win at second doubles and Rogers and Little won at third doubles, 7-5, 6-2 — after trailing 4-5 in the first set.
“Playing varsity as a freshman has been pretty great and I like the way all our doubles teams have good chemistry,” Little said.
“It’s great being on a team this strong because you’re always practicing against players who make you better,” Rogers said. “Being in that kind of competition at practice makes you better in the matches.”
For Hills East (1-1), juniors Sammi Heyman and Emma Wilck won in straight sets at first doubles and senior Sasha Chandok and eighth-grader Kahenya Mukora won in three sets at fourth doubles.
“They outplayed us and their depth was impressive,” Hills East coach Steve Farantello said. “Did we play our best? No. But you can’t take anything away from them.”
Selvaggio’s only concern coming off these two high-profile wins is keeping them from going to his players’ heads.
“These girls have their sights set on playing in early November and (2023 Small School finalist) Ross is out there, waiting,” he said. “We have played well but we have to stay grounded.”
Roger Rubin returned to Newsday in 2018 to write about high schools, colleges and baseball following 20 years at the Daily News. A Baseball Hall of Fame voter since 2011, he has covered 13 MLB postseasons and 14 NCAA Final Fours.
