It remains the most anticipated — and the most competitive — girls tennis match on the schedule.

Scranton Prep visited Abington Heights on Monday and the clash of super powers lived up to and even surpassed expectations. The Classics earned the 3-2 victory in a match where often times the singles players steal the show, but seems to come down to depth and the efforts of the doubles teams.

This year’s edition came down to a thrilling three-set match where Scranton Prep’s team of Claire Kelly and Willa Farrell gutted out a win over Sidney Horvath and Isabel Holland to secure the win.

 

 

 

HERE IS THE RECAP:

 

PRESSURE POINTS

 

NEWTON TWP. — It wouldn’t be a Scranton Prep-Abington Heights showdown without some drama.
Claire Kelly and Willa Farrell weathered the pressure of a grueling three-set match — the only one left being played — at No. 2 doubles to lift the Classics to a 3-2 win over Abington Heights on Monday in the annual match between the traditional powers in girls Lackawanna League tennis.

“I think going into it, we had a lot of pressure on us, so when that last shot was hit and we won it, and it felt like a huge weight was lifted of us knowing how big the Scranton Prep-Abington Heights match is,” Farrell said. “It was such a relief.”
In the much anticipated match that featured five All-Region players who collectively entered with 136 career singles wins in the league, Scranton Prep (7-0) also received wins from standouts Megan McDonald and Carly Habeeb to remain undefeated and tied for first with West Scranton (7-0).
Abington Heights (6-1), which won the Lackawanna League crown last season, received wins from Bella Peters, who remained unbeaten in her career in league matches at No. 1 singles, and the doubles team of Rina Hanumali-Julia Brown.
Despite all of that star power, the spotlight shined on the No. 2 doubles match.

Scranton Prep’s team of Kelly-Farrell jumped out to a 6-4 win in the first set and had an early lead in the second.
Energized by the loud support of teammates lined up along the fence, Sidney Horvath-Isabel Holland rallied with a back-and-forth win, 7-5, to force a third set.
Both teams broke the other’s serve before Kelly-Farrell built a 3-1 lead.
“It was really so stressful and such a tough match,” Kelly said. “We just talked to each other and it was nice to have a doubles partner to lean on and we battled through some tough points.”
Then, Horvath-Holland had a break and a hold to draw even, again, 3-3.
The next point came to deuce before Kelly-Farrell earned it and a 4-3 advantage.
“We just regained our composure,” Farrell said.
With momentum, the Classics seized the final two points and the overall win.
“We had gotten a little stressed out because there was so much pressure. We kind of just took a deep breath and realized that we were capable of winning the match,” Farrell said.
Abington Heights had the early advantage when Peters defeated Camilla Rinaldi, 6-2, 6-1.
Peters, a sophomore, moved onto her other role as the biggest cheerleader for the doubles team.
“Obviously, it’s the toughest match of the year,” said Peters, who is now 21-0 in the Lackawanna League. “We all expected it. We all had nerves. I thought I played well. I kept my shots in and played aggressive.
“But when it came down to our team as a whole, our doubles team was down a set and they came back and showed they are true fighters. It was really good to watch and cheering them on from the sidelines was my favorite part of the match.”
After Hanumali-Brown defeated Madison Tratthen-Annie Johnson, 6-4, 6-3 at No. 1 doubles, the Classics pulled even thanks to their talented singles stars.
At No. 3, Habeeb, who lost to Lauren Koczwara in last season’s Scranton Prep-Abington Heights battle, won the rematch, 6-3, 6-3.
“I tried to play very consistent and play my best win or lose,” said Habeeb, whose career league record is 34-1. “Lauren and I had a great match and we had some really great points.”
Needing another win to force the decisive doubles match, McDonald attacked the ball on her returns and had a strong serve to push past Clare Della Valle, 6-2, 6-3, to move her career record in the league to 17-4.
“I am happy with the way I played,” McDonald said. “I found that I needed to be more aggressive and I was. We had some amazing points and I found my zone and played with consistency.
“We thought that it could come down to one match. We pulled it out. Scranton Prep-Abington Heights is always an amazing match with an amazing result.”
Also, at the Loyola Complex, Caroline Cadden, Madelyn Klassner and Gisele Falzone won their singles matches to lead Holy Cross to a 3-2 win over Valley View. Elsa Kovatch-Taralyn Reilly and Serena Davis-Kayla Davitt had doubles wins for the Cougars.
At North Pocono, Natalie Deal, Parri Salak and Ally Stefanski won their singles matches in straight sets to lead the Lady Trojans to a 4-1 win over Wallenpaupack. Lily Hannon-Abbey Schroeder won at No. 2 doubles for the Lady Buckhorns.
At Western Wayne, CJ Grasso, Gabby Chantiloupe and Brianna Moraca won their singles matches in straight sets to lead West Scranton to a 5-0 win.
At Honesdale, Lydia Grossman, Taylor Maxson and Leigha Welsh won their singles matches in straight sets to lead the Lady Hornets to a 5-0 win over Mid Valley.
At Dunmore, Rose Lombardo and Maddie Strickler won their singles matches in straight sets to lead Delaware Valley to a 4-1 win. Lauren Grippi won at No. 3 singles for the Lady Bucks.
At Montrose, Mia Perry and Mae Adams won their singles matches to lead the Lady Meteors to a 4-1 win over Scranton. Vrunda Patel won at No. 2 singles for the Lady Knights.

 

Scranton Prep 3, Abington Heights 2

Singles: Bella Peters (AH) over Camilla Rinaldi, 6-2, 6-1; Megan McDonald (SP) over Clare Della Valle, 6-2, 6-3; Carly Habeeb (SP) over Lauren Koczwara, 6-3, 6-3.

Doubles: Rina Hanumali-Julia Brown (AH) over Madison Tratthen-Annie Johnson, 6-4, 6-3; Claire Kelly-Willa Farrell (SP) over Sidney Horvath-Isabel Holland, 6-4, 5-7, 6-3.

Records: SP 7-0, AH 6-1.

 

HIGHLIGHTS

 

 

 

 

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2019 LACKAWANNA LEAGUE SEASON

 

 

OK, so Scranton Prep’s win put it into first place in the league standings. The Classics share the penthouse with West Scranton, which is also still undefeated.

The schedule intensifies for the Lady Invaders moving forward, but this has been quite a turnaround.

 

STANDINGS

(As of Sept. 11 posted on piaad2.org)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2019 SINGLES RECORDS

 

 

 

 

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TIMES-TRIBUNE TOP 5 SINGLES

 

No.		PLAYER	SCHOOL	RECORD
1		Karissa Ghigiarelli	Riverside	6—0
2		Bella Peters	Abington Heights	7—0
3		Megan McDonald	Scranton Prep	8—0
4		Carly Habeeb	Scranton Prep	8—0
5		Clare Della Valle	Abington Heights	6—1

 

 

OTHERS TO WATCH: Camilla Rinaldi (Scranton Prep); Lauren Koczwara (Abington Heights); Rina Hanumali (Abington Heights); CJ Grasso (West Scranton); Faith Kendricks (Valley View); Caroline Cadden (Holy Cross).

 

 

TIMES-TRIBUNE TOP 5 TEAMS

 

 

No.		SCHOOL	RECORD
1		Scranton Prep Classics	7—0
2		Abington Heights Lady Comets	6—1
3		Holy Cross Lady Crusaders	6—2
4		West Scranton Lady Invaders	7—0
5		Valley View Cougars	5—2

 

 

 

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2019 LACKAWANNA LEAGUE SCHEDULE

 

 

TODAY

Scranton at 1-Scranton Prep
Riverside at 3-Holy Cross
Wallenpaupack at Mid Valley
Montrose at Honesdale
North Pocono at 5-Valley View
2-Abington Heights at Western Wayne
4-West Scranton at Delaware Valley

 

THURSDAY

Honesdale at 1-Scranton Prep
4-West Scranton at Dunmore
Wallenpaupack at Montrose
North Pocono at Riverside
Western Wayne at Scranton
5-Valley View at Mid Valley
2-Abington Heights at Delaware Valley

 

MONDAY

Riverside at Dunmore
Honesdale at Scranton
3-Holy Cross at Delaware Valley
Mid Valley at 1-Scranton Prep
4-West Scranton at 5-Valley View
2-Abington Heights at Wallenpaupack
North Pocono at Western Wayne

 

TUESDAY

Western Wayne at Honesdale

 

 

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