MASTIC BEACH, NY — The William Floyd girls' varsity tennis team continued the program's longstanding tradition of excellence throughout the 2026 season by winning the Division Championship and securing their 24th consecutive playoff berth recently, school district officials said.
The Colonials also earned their fourth division title over the past six seasons after finishing the year with an 8 to 1 League record, or 13 to 3 overall.
As a result of their fantastic season, the Colonials received the No. 2 seed in the Section XI playoff bracket, and secured a first-round bye. They'll host their opening playoff matchup against the winner of Wednesday's match between No. 15 Walt Whitman High School, and No. 18 Patchogue-Medford High School, on Thursday at 2 p.m.
The team is led by two-time United States Tennis Association Coach of the Year and William Floyd Athletic Hall of Famer, Dave Pia, and assistant coach, Michael Clauberg.
Pia attributed much of the team's success to an outstanding group of seniors who provided key leadership and outstanding play all year.
The group included Lydia Van Cott and Gianna Martin, who provided versatile play in both singles and doubles, as well as Anabel Van Cott, Rylie Wiegand, and Tatiana Sanchez, who anchored the doubles teams and provided leadership and support during key matches.
The team was also backed by consistent and improved play from senior Katelynn DeLuca, junior Emma Hodgson, and eighth-grader Addisyn Cummings, all of whom provided key wins in singles play throughout the year.
In doubles play, juniors Emma Drees and Madison Edwards, sophomores Ava Asendorf and Gabriella Montalbano, and freshman Madison Hodgson, all had outstanding performances, and were instrumental in some of the Colonials' most important team victories.
The team is excited for the playoffs, as well as the upcoming Suffolk County individual singles and doubles tournament. In the tournament, the Van Cott sisters will once again compete as a doubles team and work toward making it back to the county championship match and to the state Public High School Athletic Association Girls' Tennis State Championships, where they advanced to the round of 16 last season.
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