First year coach Eric Bowe help row the Lady Vikings one game over 500. Some really tough matches down the stretch. However the Lady Vikes fought hard all year long. Today was bitter sweet for the Varsity squad, four seniors played their final match today. Junior Sahar Islam, the only remaining starter at singles will be expected to take over the leadership duties next season. The girls really enjoyed playing for coach Bowe. Next year he'll continue to grow and improve the program. Go Vikings!

"Upper Merion 5, Upper Perkiomen 2 Singles:   Minali Tare, UM, def. Maddy Gochnauer 6-1, 6-1;    Great showing by Senior Minali Tare against a really good player who could really hit the ball well. Minali finished off some great rallies with crushing volleys. Minali showed great defense arount the net against some really hard volleys.  Coach Notes: "Minali worked on her game over the summer and it's showing each and every match. We are defintley going to miss her presence on an off the court next season.   Sahar Islam, UM, def. Skyler Gionfriddo 6-0, 6-3;    Sahar Islam years of experience playing this beautiful game was put on notice. Sahar demonstrated patience, different speeds as she used angles and hard forehand shots to earn the victory in two sets. Coach Notes: "It's great to have a player with Sahar's experience. She has a great feel for the game.  Sahar trains and works on her game/strength/conditioning and it shows.  She also stepped up helping out the younger classmen. I have a lot of younger players so that's been really helpful. We are lucky to have her for one more year.   Hali Shin, UM, def. Allison Herbst 6-1, 6-4. Hali steps into third singles and didn't skip a beat winning in two sets.   Doubles:  Ava Rosato and Gabby Margulies, UM, def. Olivia Dick and Gail Kooser 6-2, 6-2;    Ava Rosato and Gabby Margulies continuity was on full display taking their match in two sets.   Haley Kozuchowski and Emily Reid, UM, def. Sophie Jago and Rachel Burns 6-2, 6-2;    Haley Kozuchowski and Emily Reid stellar net play and groundtrokes earned the duo a two set victory.   Olivia Sharadin and Maria Aakvaag, UP, def. Maira Ryan and Claire Becker 6-2, 6-2;   Maira Ryan and Claire Becker fought extremely hard despite not winning their match. Some really close games that could have went either eay.   Alexa Aughe and Alyssa Sullivan, UP, def. Alanna Monroe and Mariah Nguyen 7-6, 6-4. Alanna Monroe and Mariah Nguyen fought  in a very close match. The young ladies will learn and grow from this great performance.    

Phoenixville 6, Upper Merion 1 Singles: Julia Gumieniak, P, def. Minali Tare 6-0, 6-1; Mila Archer, P, def. Sahar Islam 6-0, 6-0; Gina Brown, P, def. Hannah Delapaz 6-1, 6-1 Doubles: Alex Rieg and Susan Duncan, P, def. Ava Rosato and Gabby Margulies 5-7, 6-1, 6-0; Ashlyn Duda and Meghan O'Neill, P, def. Hali Shin and First Srilankaya 7-6 (7-2), 6-2; Bailey Kozuchouski and Emily Reid, UM, def. Jessica Kramer and Jillian Absher 7-6 (9), 6-1; Sophie Taylor and Michelle Richter beat Maira Ryan and Claire Becker 6-2, 6-3.

The Lady Vikings kept things in order against a ready to play Pottsgrove squad.  Game notes: Minali Tare showed her four years of experience winning both sets 6-0.  Minali powerful ground-strokes sounded like a baseball game was taking place they were so powerful. Once her match concluded she was spotted encouraging her teammates, displaying a great deal of leadership. "I wanted to set the tone for the team. I love helping out my teammates. I'm happy we were able to get the team win. We have to continue practicing hard and working on getting better as a team." -Minali Tare At Second Singles Junior Sahar Islam has earned the nickname "the marathon women"  In two consecutive matches she's played a total of 5.5 hours.... Despite being pushed to the brink in both sets against an extremely game opponent, she still manage to win in two sets. Sahar ended a few games with picture perfect drop-shots and aces. *Sahar's first set concluded with a tiebreaker (7-3) " I feel so bad complaining to my mom about going to my max core training during the off-season (laughing) it's so needed this season.  Maya is such a competitor she plays everyone tough and she literally fights for every point. Wait... I'm the last one playing? (laughing) I'm happy we got the team win most importantly. We can enjoy this but we have to get ready for another tough opponent (Phoenixville) on Monday"  -Sahar Islam Hanna Delapaz takes control at third singles winning in two sets. Hanna also plays volleyball.  Hanna put all her athletic talents on display today.  -Hanna Delapaz "I'm so happy we were able to get the team win" Game Summary: Singles: Minali Tare, UM, def. Rebekah Lilliendahl 6-0, 6-0; Sahar Islam, UM, def. Mya Krueger 7-6 (7-3), 7-5; Hannah Delapaz, UM, def. Alex Harvey 6-1, 6-1    Doubles: Gabby Margulies and Eva Rosato, UM, def. Makenzie Murphy and Jaelyn Kennedy 2-6, 6-1, 6-3 Gabby and Eva played extremely well together down a set, taking the next two sets securing their victory. Gabby and Eva chemistry on the court was put on notice during some really nice siwtches and net play.  Hali Shin and Emily Reid, UM, def. Samme Marazas and Grace Myers 6-1, 6-1; Hali and Emily demonstrated crushing ground-strokes and cross-court shots taking both sets while only dropping two games total. Alexis Youse and Jenny Patel, PG, def. Moira Ryan and Alanna Delong 6-2, 6-2;  Moira and Alanna both fough extremely hard despite not winning the match, some really close games that could have went either way. Roma Chatarvedi and Claire Becker, UM, def. Waverly Nofer and Angela Trieval 6-4, 6-3  Roma and Claire in a great back and fourth match were able to secure a two set victory with some really great shots around the net and abroad.      

The Lady Vikings swept the court at singles and doubles with a 7-0 victory over a very competitive Pottstown squad.    Gabby and Hailey demonstrated excellent doubles play. Working well together and communicating with each and every switch. They defended and attacked around the net with crushing volleys earning them a clean victory both sets.     Minali, Hail and First played really well at first, second and third singles.       Singles: Minali Tave (UM) def. Gianna Epps, 6-1, 6-2; Hail Shin (UM) def. Sierra Everett, 6-1, 6-4; First Srikanlaya (UM), def. Zoe Wallace 7-5, 6-1. Doubles: Gabby Mavgulies and Hailey Kozuehouxly (UM) def. Abigail Parson and Abigail Richter, 6-0, 6-0.

Upper Merion bounce back from a tough loss against John Paul II.  First year Coach Eric Bowe has the Lady Vikings off to a 3-1 start in a very tough PAC 10 division.  Boyertown, always a tough out for any team. Some really great play from the Lady Vikings doubles and singles taking two out of three.   The match of the day came between two Juniors UM Sahar Islam vs B Lauren Staffa who are very familiar with each other since freshmen year.  Lauen Staffa is an extremely consistent player who literally gets her racquet on every shot within her area code and abroad. However Islam's defense was not to be overlooked and it helped secure a hard earned victory, she did a great job reacting to Staffa's volley play around the net. Any chess fans? Well, you would have loved the chess play between these two young ladies who played THREE HOURS!  Probably could have played three more hours with no signs of fatigue.  Around of applauds! Quotes: " I actually need to get ready for a Sweet 16 party!  First off,  much respect to Laura, that girl goes after every shot! (laughing) she's such a good player. My dad and I trained and worked on situational drills all summer long especially around the net. My traveling coach Justin and coach Bowe both told me, in order for me to win tough matches, I have to be good around the net.  I still have a ton of learning to do in that area. The most important thing is CONDITIONING my max core coach tells us all the time, talent will come and go but conditioning will be your most trusted ally in battle.... I think that's how it goes? (laughing) " -Sahar Islam  

   

      Upper Merion 7, Norristown 0 Singles: Moira Ryan (UM) def Anna Vogel (N) 6-3, 6-0; First Srikanlaya (UM) def Nyseria Scott (N) 6-0, 6-0; Hailey Kozuchowski (UM) def Jessica Piccari (N) 6-1, 6-1 Doubles: Emily Reid & Hali Shin (UM) def Oxiry Salas & Evelyn Romero (N) 6-0, 6-0; Claire Becker & Roma Chaturvedi (UM) def Beatriz Alcala & Devine Rodriguez (N) 6-1, 6-0; Mary Bauman & Grace Donohue (UM) won by default; Heba Jandali & Mariah Nguyen (UM won by default  

                                           Singles:   Minali Tare (UM) def Gianna Fuls-Hopkins 6-3, 6-2;  Senior Minali Tarea steps into the role of first singles this season,  showed a great deal of poise and court-control against an extremely tough opponent.   Sahar Islam (UM) def Allie Cottone  6-2, 6-2;  Junior Sahar Islam steps into the role of second singles, demonstrated great rally play and finishers around the net against an extremely consistent opponent.   Hannah Delapaz (UM) def Ellis Strutton 6-2, 6-0:  Hannah Delapaz first year Varsity tennis player earned her spot at third singles.  Hannah was consistent finishing off shots and driving the ball into the ground.    Doubles:    Alli Hastings & Maddie Bohr (Spring) def Moira Ryan & First Srikanlaya 6-4, 6-3; First and Moira fought hard at first singles despite coming up just short. There were a few games that could have went either way.   Gabrielle Marguiles & Ava Rosato (UM def Jenny Binet & Lily Gardner 6-0, 6-1;    Gabby and Ava showed great chemistry working together controlling both sets with stellar net play.    Hali Shin & Emily Reid (UM) def Jane Cutcher & Hannah Schermer 6-0, 6-0;   Hali and Emily displayed beautiful ground-strokes and volley play.    Hailey Kozuchowski & Claire Becker (UM) def Gabby Padilla & Bella John 6-0, 6-1; Hailey amd Claire demonstrated a great deal of power shots and control around the net.