Sports
Ocean City Girls' Tennis Falls in Sectional Finals
Moorestown wins its 23rd straight sectional title with a sweep of the five matches.
A year ago, the Ocean City High School girls' tennis team wasn't even in the playoffs.
On Monday afternoon, the Red Raiders were playing in the sectional finals for the first time since 2008.
Just like then, Moorestown ended Ocean City's playoff run.
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The top-seeded Quakers defeated No. 2 Ocean City, 5-0, at Eastern High School in Voorhees.
"I thought we played really well. I thought I played pretty well," Ocean City's No. 1 singles player Gabby DuBrielle said. "I went into the match thinking I could win. I was all excited thinking we would win."
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"Making it to the finals was a great experience," Ocean Coty coach Samantha Newgas said. "We were happy to get that far. All the girls hung with Moorestown. They won, but they didn't completely blow us out of the water. We held our own for most of the match."
Moorestown is a perennial state power, and Monday's victory was the Quakers' 23rd consecutive sectional championship.
It takes the right mindset to go up against the Quakers in the playoffs.
"I think that everyone believes the press," Newgas said. "You have to go in believing that you're capable of winning. You have to be in it mentally to be successful. When you read that they won 22 years straight that can be intimidating."
DuBrielle found herself down 4-1 in the opening set to Brianna Maravich, battled back, but ultimately lost 6-4. The Red Raiders' top player led 5-4 in the second set, but lost the final three games to lose 7-5.
"I thought I played well, but she was a really good player," DuBrielle said.
"My first singles player was amazing," Newgas said. "She played amazing. It was real tight."
Moorestown's Shelby Burke defeated Aida Pleho, 6-1, 6-1, at second singles. Kelsey Ham topped Carling Mott, 6-0, 6-3 at third singles.
The Quakers' Rachel Bass and Lauren Culbertson defeated Leah Kornberg and Lauren Loggi, 6-2, 6-2. Kelly Hopkins and Sarah Kim defeated Heather Mazzeo and Eva Nusbaum, 6-1, 6-2.
"I thought we played well, and hung with them," Newgas said.
