The J. Taylor Finley Middle School girls’ tennis team served up aces this fall, compiling a 7-2 record.
Coached by Woodhull Intermediate School physical education teacher Eric Triolo, Finley defeated Elwood (6-1 and 7-0), Northport (7-0), Hauppauge (7-0 and 7-0), East Northport (7-0) and Stimson (4-3). The Falcons fell to Commack (4-3) and Oldfield (5-2).
“Beating a very tough Stimson team was the highlight of the season,” Triolo said. “It came down to the final match. It was a tiebreaker, which we won.”
Finley was led by eighth grade singles players Anna Bell Young (5-4 in No. 1), McKenna Buffa (6-3 in No. 2), Kate Balm (5-4 in No. 3) and Daniela Luca (7-2 in No. 4). Eighth graders Victoria Befumo and Sarah Krisch were Finley’s top doubles team, recording a 5-0 mark. Eighth grader Kendall Germain shined in No. 3 doubles, going 9-0.
“Anna Bell Young is very athletic and a hard hitter and very hard worker,” Triolo said. “McKenna is very athletic, too, with great footwork and getting better every day. Kate is a consistent player and very skilled.”
Finley’s singles lineup was superb and its doubles teams were always ready when it was their turn to take the court. “Our doubles teams were highly successful, winning a majority of their matches,” Triolo said.
Seventh grader Brooke Farasciano “did a great job playing doubles,” said Triolo, who added she will be the team’s top returning player next fall.
Finley’s full roster included seventh graders Brooke Farasciano, Rachel Learned and Ruby Meidenman and eighth graders Nadeera Ali, Katherine Balm, Victoria Befumo, Sofia Breskin, McKenna Buffa, Kendall Germain, Sarah Krisch, Daniela Luca, Charlotte Wesnofske and Anna Bell Young.