By Rebecca Benjamin ’21
The undefeated MFS Girls Tennis team sent seven players to the semi-finals of the South Jersey Interscholastic Tournament on Saturday, September 28, 2019.
The Foxes’ first victory of the day came after second singles player Bella Pescatore ’22 won by way of default. Pescatore’s opponent was forced to withdraw due to an injury.
The Girls Team’s number one doubles team, Skye Mada ’22 and Elena Styliades ’20, took on cross town rival Moorestown High School in their semi-final match. The girls played a “tough match,” said Coach Mike Bodary. “Unfortunately we had to retire with an injury.”
B-Team doubles partners Julia Tourtellote ’23 and Kathryn Sebastain ’22 had a hard-fought victory over Cherry Hill East. After a series of critical serves by Sebastain in the last game, the duo was able to secure its place in the finals.
The Foxes’ marquee match came when first singles player Renna Mohsen-Breen ’20 took on third singles player Lisa Steiles ’21. After a grueling two hour match, Mohsen-Breen beat Steiles in straight sets during the inter-squad semi-final. When they approached the net, the two hugged one another and showered each other in praise. “It was a really tough battle . . . Lisa played amazing,” Mohsen-Breen said.
Mohsen-Breen will once again compete against her own teammate when she faces Pescatore, the second singles player in the South Jersey Interscholastic Tournament Finals. Both girls said they are excited for this match-up.
“I think it will be a really fun match,” Pescatore said. “It’s going to be competitive, but we’ll for sure have a lot of fun out there.”
Mohsen-Breen responded similarly when asked how she felt about playing Pescatore in the finals: “I’m really excited to play Bella. We are really good friends, so I am excited to have a tough, fun match against her.”
Coach Mike Bodary views this unique situation of having all of his singles players compete against one another as a great learning tool for his players.
“It [having your players compete against one another] doesn’t happen very often, but, it is good for both of them (Seiler and Mohsen-Breen) to sharpen their games,” said Coach Bodary.
“Having Lisa play Renna in the semi-finals, and now she (Mohsen-Breen) gets to play Pescatore in the finals, it will sharpen them up for states,” he continued.
Regardless of the outcomes of their matches, the Foxes will continue to be a supportive, united team. Pescatore, for one, said she is happy about her fellow teammates’ successes: “It’s really great that all three of us [singles players] have made it to the semi-finals.”
Additionally, Mohsen-Breen, despite her excitement for her finals match, said winning The Team Tournament of Champions was “her biggest goal for this season.”
The Girls B-Team Doubles and the Girls Singles began their championship matches at 3:00 on Saturday, September 28, 2019. The Foxes’ B-Team doubles team were crowned the champions of their division. In the girls singles finals, Renna Mohsen-Breen ‘20 defeated teammate Bella Pescatore ‘22 to become the South Jersey Interscholastic Tennis Champion. The Foxes hope to continue their undefeated season on October 1, 2019, when they visit Moorestown High School. The match begins at 4:00.
