Kayla Greco| Democrat Monticello’s Jacklyn Bellamy sends a backhand during a singles match Tuesday. Bellamy won in three sets, over her competitor, Liberty's Emma Wegener, helping Monticello to the 5-2 victory.

Monticello singles out Liberty

Story by Kayla Greco
MONTICELLO — October 11, 2013 — Two girls’ high school tennis programs having tough seasons met on the hard courts of DeHoyos Memorial Park in Monticello on Tuesday afternoon. When it was over, Liberty was still looking for its first victory as Monticello used a sweep of the singles to win the match 5-2, though it was closer than that.
For the Monties, it was their third victory on the season against nine defeats. Two of the wins have come against winless Liberty.
"I'm just looking for improvement every match. So far so good,” said Monticello coach, Urvashi "Tutu" Gupta.
Heather Giza downed Magali Ramirez 6-0, 6-2 and Sierra Wayman cruised past Nailah Dixon to record Monticello’s only straight sets victory in singles. Jordan Drapkin won a tough first set tiebreaker against Miyanna Vernon 7-5, then cruised in the second set, 6-3, to win her match. Jackie Bellamy had an even tougher match against Liberty senior Emma Wegener, winning a first set tiebreaker 7-5, dropping the second set 4-6, but rallying in the third set for a big 10-2 win.
Liberty fared better in doubles with two wins as Erin Kinne and Amanda DeJesus took their match against Kristy Gessman and Johanna Shaver 6-3, 6-2 and Vanessa Olivo and Katarina Manzi defeated Rachel Broder and Rebecca Chance 7-6, 3-6, 10-6.
"We've been working on individual games, but somehow just haven't been able to pull it together to win a match yet this season," said Liberty head coach Mike Diehl.
Both Liberty and Monticello concluded their seasons on Thursday with matches against Cornwall and O’Neill respectively.