With the Falcons clinging to a 3-2 lead against Greenwich in the FCIAC Championship, and just two games remaining on the courts, Cami Adajian calmly did her job.
Engaged in a near two hour battle with Greenwich’s Maddie Arnold at No. 2 singles, Adajian won 7-6, 6-1 to give Ludlowe the 4-2 lead and seal the victory.
Ludlowe (20-1) went on to win 4-3 to claim its second straight FCIAC title.
“It was really special,” said Adajian who improved to 21-0 on the season. “It hasn’t happened in a while, the deciding match for a big tournament; it felt really good to do that for the team.”
“She’s definitely a cool cucumber. She handles pressure very well,” Reisert said of Adajian. “She comes to the court and is really focused on what she needs to do.”
It was a collective and focused effort Wednesday, one the Falcons have displayed all season.
“The team has put in the hard work, has taken the label of defending champions and taken the best every team has to offer,” Reisert said. “We worked hard; we faced a great opponent today in Greenwich.”
Led by junior Lindsey Evans, the Falcons swept the singles, a position they have dominated all spring.
“It’s super nerve-wracking,” said No. 1 doubles player and co-captain Chelsea Keane, of watching Adajian in that position. “I just want the best for my teammates.”
Evans, who was named the Most Valuable Player, defeated Greenwich’s Anna Daccahe (6-2, 6-0) in the No. 1 spot, while Daria Efimov beat Maggie Glynn in No. 3 (6-0, 6-1) and Kyra Adajian picked up the No. 4 spot victory 6-1, 6-3 over Hannah Kratky.
“It feels good to repeat, but we’re just trying to play our best tennis,” Adajian said.
That mentality of playing the best tennis possible always and not looking ahead is what has kept the Falcons so successful.
“We don’t try to look ahead too much because you never know what could happen,” Keane said.
Greenwich (14-5) picked up wins in the three doubles spots.
With one loss on their record, a regular season 3-4 defeat to Darien, the Falcons are looking to continue what they started. Runner-up in 2013, the Falcons are the No. 1 seed in the Class L State Tournament, which starts on Monday. And they would love nothing more to get back to the state final.
“We’ve had that next match mentality,” Reisert said. “We’d like to work our way back to play for a state championship.”
Added Keane: “This is my last year playing tennis, and to go out and win the FCIAC and hopefully make a run in the states is an awesome feeling. I couldn’t be more happy.”
