Harriton captures PIAA District One Class AAA girls’ tennis championship

by Eddie Levin October 19, 2017

Whitemarsh >> For the second consecutive year, Harriton junior Sophia Sassoli found herself in position to clinch the PIAA District One Class AAA championship on the same court she played on one year ago at Plymouth Whitemarsh High School. Similar to last season, the two players playing on the courts next to her Wednesday afternoon had finished their matches expediently to give the Rams a 2-0 lead. Holding a 3-2 lead in her match, Sassoli wanted to take care of business so she could cheer on her teammates.
Also similar to last season, her opponent was not about to let down easily. This year’s opponent, Conestoga’s Cassidy Landau, knew the situation and was not about to let her team down.
Tracking down just about every potential winner Sassoli hit, Landau did everything she could to extend the match. As the two battled on every point with points lasting with as many as 20 or more rallies, it was the No. 2 doubles match between Harriton’s Shaina Ginsberg and Erika Lutz and Conestoga’s Nina Herman and Coco Kambayashi that decided the match, with Ginsberg and Lutz earning the final point needed to give Harriton its second consecutive PIAA District One Class AAA championship.
“When I saw the No. 2 and No. 3 singles courts come off, I knew we were down 2-0, and I had to do everything possible to extend the match,” said Landau, whose match ended just after Harriton clinched the title. “Sophia is really good and I tried my best.”
“Cassidy played really well today,” said Sassoli. “She hit a solid ball and every time I thought I hit a winner she would get it back. She did a good job. After seeing Connie (Richards) at No. 3 singles and Saige (Roshkoff) at No. 2 singles come off, it was tough to focus because I just wanted to finish so I could cheer on my teammates. I knew I had to re-focus but she made it tough and played great. Props to her.”
With Sassoli taking glances at the other courts, she began to feel the match would come down to her with both doubles courts appearing like they were headed to three sets. After Harriton won the first sets on both doubles courts, the Conestoga duos refused to quit, jumping out to early second set leads.

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