Regional tennis: Auburndale sweeps New Smyrna Beach, will host region finals

Roy Fuoco, The Ledger
·1 min read
Auburndale High School No. 1 seed McKenna Battilla hits a forehand shot to New Smyrna Beach Ava Epps during the Class 3A, Region 2 tennis tournament at Kelly Recreation In Lakeland Fl Tuesday April 18,2023. Ernst Peters/The Ledger
Auburndale High School No. 1 seed McKenna Battilla hits a forehand shot to New Smyrna Beach Ava Epps during the Class 3A, Region 2 tennis tournament at Kelly Recreation In Lakeland Fl Tuesday April 18,2023. Ernst Peters/The Ledger

The Auburndale girls tennis team lost just three games combined at the first three singles positions and dominated their single matches en route to defeating New Smyrna Beach 5-0 on Tuesday afternoon in the Class 3A regional semifinals at the Kelly Recreational Center.

The Bloodhounds were the only Polk County boys or girls team to advance to the finals. Auburndale will host Orlando Edgewater at 3 p.m.

For Auburndale, McKenna Battilla defeated Ava Epps, 6-1, 6-0. Peyton Battilla defeated Christian Desimone, 6-0, 6-1, and Camila Guilarte defeated Lani Dirmeir, 6-1, 6-0.

Auburndale No. 2 singles player Peyton Battilla hits a forehand shot to New Smyrna Beach's Christina Desimone during the Class 3A semifinals at Kelly Recreation. Ernst Peters/The Ledger
Auburndale No. 2 singles player Peyton Battilla hits a forehand shot to New Smyrna Beach's Christina Desimone during the Class 3A semifinals at Kelly Recreation. Ernst Peters/The Ledger

The match of the day came at No 4 singles where Madison Newbern prevailed in a tight match. She defeated Piper Lehmann, 6-0, 4-6, 12-10. At No. 5, Ali Spencer defeated Madison Sheppard, 6-4, 6-0.

With the match clinched after singles play, playing doubles was not necessary.

Lakeland falls to Pasco, 4-1

Lakeland's Lissette Ortiz hits a forehand in her match against Dade City Pasco in the Class 3A regional semifinals at the Beerman Family Tennis Center.
Lakeland's Lissette Ortiz hits a forehand in her match against Dade City Pasco in the Class 3A regional semifinals at the Beerman Family Tennis Center.

Dade City Pasco won four of five singles matches and defeated the Lakeland girls, 4-1, in the Class 3A semifinals. Lissette Ortiz at No. 4 singles was the only Lakeland player to win her match. Orr defeated Susanna Rom, 6-1, 3-6, 10-8.

In Pasco's wins, Kasey Lang defeated Olivia Comkowycz, 6-2, 6-1; Madison Meeker defeated Emily Bayless, 6-2, 6-1; Sadi Williams defeated Victoria Resrepo, 2-6, 7-5, 10-8, and Hayli Carter defeated Hope Hallock, 6-4, 4-6, 11-0.

Lakeland's Emily Bayless hits a backhand in her match against Dade City Pasco in the Class 3A regional semifinals at the Beerman Family Tennis Center.
Lakeland's Emily Bayless hits a backhand in her match against Dade City Pasco in the Class 3A regional semifinals at the Beerman Family Tennis Center.

Also for the girls, Wiregrass Ranch defeated Bartow, 4-0.

For the boys, Wiregrass Ranch defeated Lakeland, 4-0, and Daytona Beach Seabreeze, 4-0 in Class 3A. In Class 4A, George Steinbrenner defeated George Jenkins, 4-0.

Lakeland's Olivia Comkowycz hits a backhand in her match against Dade City Pasco in the Class 3A regional semifinals at the Beerman Family Tennis Center.
Lakeland's Olivia Comkowycz hits a backhand in her match against Dade City Pasco in the Class 3A regional semifinals at the Beerman Family Tennis Center.

This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Regional tennis: Auburndale sweeps New Smyrna Beach, will host finals

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