Harriton sweeps past Conestoga to win 3A team tennis title

HERSHEY >> Conestoga fell one step shy of securing its first state team tennis title at Hershey Racquet Club.

The Pioneers dropped a 3-0 decision to Central League rival Harriton Saturday evening, thwarting the program’s bid for its inaugural gold trophy.

Unionville was also defeated it its bid, dropping a score decision to the top-seeded Rams in Saturday morning’s semifinal round.

Harriton — the 2016 state champs — made it two in three by dispatching the Pioneers in the Class AAA title match in lightning speed, clinching the championship in 1 hour-and-five-minutes with victories at first and second singles and the No. 2 doubles court. Wins on the latter two courts came within seconds of each other and abruptly halted the proceedings. The two remaining courts still in play were abandoned.

Despite the setback to a league and District 1 powerhouse, first-year Stoga coach Brittany Aimone was proud of her senior-laden club, which made school history by just appearing in the championship round. They had to defeat defending state champ North Allegheny 3-2 in Saturday morning’s semifinal round just to make it, no small feat.

“It’s without words right now,” Aimone said. “This squad, they’re a special group of girls. Their attitude and their energy has gotten them to where we are today. I stress more than anything being a family and a unit, and they stand together today as one. It’s beyond words.

“The girls came in with the attitude of playing their best tennis today and if this was the best they can do, I’m proud of them.”

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