Sep. 16—CONNEAUT — Mickey Zheng won the first-singles title for the second time in two years, and helped Geneva, her new team, to the Ashtabula County Girls Tennis tournament title on Saturday at the Ricuarte Tennis Complex.
Zheng, who transferred from Saint John to Geneva this year, defeated Lakeside’s Ary Toth 6-4, 6-4 in the finals.
The two set match included a lot of long volleys.
“Winning county this year again is auch a honor with this team, and was a goal this year,” Zheng said. “This season, our team worked hard and the coaches prepared us for county with extra practices and pushed us.”
The championship was one of four attained by Geneva in winning the tournament with 29 points. Saint John scored 25 points for second at the Ricuarte Tennis Complex in Conneaut.
“It was difficult going from Saint John, where I was my entire life to leaving my senior year to go to Geneva,” Zheng said. “It’s been fun with both teams.”
Zheng thanked the the Geneva and Saint John programs for the support over the years.
Geneva coach Steve Torok said he was happy that his players recorded the victory.
“We did what we had to do,” Torok said.
Geneva won all of the championship matches, except first doubles as Saint John’s Taylor Fusek and Christina Bellios took the title.
The Eagles winners included: Zheng; Addison DiPofi, second singles; Ashyn Thompson, third singles and Hannah Dunn and Julian Miniard, second doubles.
“We’d like to think it [the county trophy] is back where it belongs,” Torok said.
Lakeside head coach Spencer Selman applauded the Zheng-Toth match as both girls went to the net during the first set, but hung back a bit in the second set as fatigue set in and the wind picked up.
Selman said Toth played really well on Saturday, but couldn’t get some of the important points at the right time.
Saint John head girls coach Todd Nassief said his team exceeded some expectations, including the first-doubles team victory.
“Congratulations to Geneva they have a wonderful group of girls,” he said.
Jefferson finished third in the team race with 16 points, followed by Lakeside with 14, Edgewood 13 and Conneaut eight.
For the Falcons, Kenney Franklin, at third singles, and Leah Markley and Ava Valenti, second doubles, both finished third.
In addition to Toth’s second, Layla Jones, at second singles, and Hannah Olson and Anastasia Sanders, second doubles, posted fourth.
The Warriors received thirds from Olivia DiGiacomo at second singles, and Cathleen Applebee and Gabby Brown, first doubles.
For the Spartans, Ava Georgia, at first singles; Hope Gleason, third singles, and Ella McAdoo and Ella Elliot, second doubles, each notched fifth.
First year Conneaut athletic director Tony Pasanen said Nassief helped him administrate the tournament.
“Todd’s been great,” Pasanen said. “It is fun I am enjoying it.”
The Chagrin Valley Conference tournament is scheduled for Thursday at Jefferson.
