Sweltering Rams Win FCIAC Girls Tennis Title

The New Canaan Rams won the FCIAC girls tennis title on Wednesday afternoon toppling the defending champion Greenwich Cardinals 5-2 at the Wilton High School court. The Rams won without the loss of a set in the four singles matches.

The courtside temperature at the start was 97 degrees which made for a game plan of win and do it in straight sets.

While Rams No.1, senior, Tina Tehrani beat Jenn DeLuca 6-0, 6-0, she gave the underclassman credit.

"I didn't realize she was only a freshman," said Tehrani. "She's a good player and a good competitor who's only going to get better."

Tehrani said she prepared for the enervating heat by taking plenty of fluids all day starting early in the morning. She was at the top of her game at the baseline, in the mid court and at the net. Her big serve and return of serve were also key.

Kate Mannelly was a 6-3, 6-2 winner at No. 2 singles over Danielle Cepelewicz. Mannelly's ground strokes were good off both wings.

"After losing to Greenwich twice a year over the past three years, once during the regular season and the other in the FCIAC's, it felt great to turn it around and beat them twice in a season," said Mannelly.

The straight-set wins continued down the line when Caitlin Gallagher was a 6-2, 6-1 winner over Sam Stone. Stone had won their regular season match. "That's why this win was extra rewarding," Gallagher said.

The sweep of the singles was completed when Caitlin's sister, Courtney, beat Andrea Carlson 6-4, 6-2. Carlson was a victim of the sun and heat, fainting after the match. She never lost consciousness and had ice applied all over her body while an ambulance was called. She was taken to the hospital with sun stroke and heat prostration but was expected to recover quickly.

FCIAC MVP's Alyssa Baker and Kimmy Glerum also won in straight sets at No. 1 doubles to remain undefeated as an individual pair on the season. They beat Leah Tagliarino and Jordan Cepelewicz 6-1, 6-0.

Greenwich got its only wins in the two remaining doubles matches where Anna Sweeney and Michelle Vogt beat Emily and Sara Greene, 6-4, 6-0, and Katie Hopper and Lauren Daccache won 6-4, 6-2 over Phoebe Wilks and Amanda Merjian.

"We hadn't won the FCIAC title since 2006 and to knock off the defending champs and rival Greenwich, made today extra special," said Rams Coach Gail Overbeck.

"We'll have 11 of our 14 players back next year including the five freshman who were able to get varsity experience this year," she said, already looking ahead.

But the Rams' 2010 season isn't over quite yet. New Canaan, now 20-0, is the No.1 seed in the state championships that start next week. Greenwich, which has lost only to New Canaan this season, will be in the tournament too.