Blue Devil Tennis Impresses with Young Team

Eighth grader Janita Files and sophomore Mia Kaufman played to All-County honors and freshman Amanda Ganley and sophomore Isabella Palacios garnered All-League recognition to pace the Huntington High School varsity girls’ tennis team this fall.

The 12 member team was coached by Jamie Fishlow and captained by Jane Callery and Isabella Palacios. The roster also included sophomores Bridget Callery, Grace Gordon, Naomi Lyons, Claire Parks and Emma Polinsky; junior Vincenza Garofalo and senior Ellie Kaufman.

“We were a very young team with only one senior starter,” Fishlow said. “Our singles were very strong, winning 75 percent of the matches. Doubles were inexperienced with many new varsity players where we won only about 40 percent of the matches. The girls definitely improved over the course of a short season and it showed in their play. They were a close knit group that worked well in practice and rarely ever missed a day. I was proud of their effort.”

Files compiled a 14-5 record in No. 1 singles, placing third in the Suffolk Division I tournament and reaching the county quarterfinals.

“Janita is young and continuing to develop into one of the best in the county,” Fishlow said. “She has a great baseline game, especially her forehand. She came through in many close matches and is determined to improve all aspects of her game.”

Kaufman notched an 11-4 mark in No. 2 singles, reaching the divisional quarterfinals and playing in the county tournament.

“Mia is a very crafty player with good power and not afraid to rush the net,” Fishlow said. “She turned in a solid performance this year and toughed out some tough three-setters.”

Ganley went 11-0 in No. 3 singles and was 12-1 overall. “Amanda is perfect at third singles, where she was undefeated without much challenge,” Fishlow said. “She took care of business.”

Fishlow said that Jane Callery developed “wonderfully” over four years. The teenager is Huntington’s County Team Sportsmanship Award recipient. “She played with many different partners as the team needed her experience,” the coach added.

Palacios also continued to develop and improve. “Isabella moved from singles and showed fine progression in learning and playing doubles,” Fishlow said.

Huntington had the unenviable task of playing in Suffolk Division I, generally regarded as the county’s best with strong teams throughout. “Unfortunately we missed out on the playoffs due to a harder schedule,” Fishlow said. “We won a couple of 4-3 matches to keep us in the running for the playoffs until the end.”

The Blue Devils will return everyone except two graduating seniors. “I look forward to better production and performance from everyone,” Fishlow said. “We’ll continue to be in the strongest division in the county, but we should be able to hold our own with everyone and make the playoffs. We will be looking for Janita Files to finish strong at the top of the county tournament along with some doubles teams to advance as well.”