Girls Varsity Tennis Team Playoff Bound, 17th Consecutive Year

MASTIC BEACH, NY — The William Floyd girls varsity tennis team is headed back to the playoffs — for 17th consecutive year.

The William Floyd Colonials girls’ varsity tennis team, under the leadership of head coach Dave Pia, a two-time United States Tennis Association Coach of the Year, finished their regular season in second place with an 11 to 5 record, the district said.

The Colonials’ 11 wins also puts them at 10 or more victories in 15 out of the last 17 years, "a truly remarkable run," the district said.

Their first playoff match will be at home against the winner of Huntington/Brentwood on Wednesday, October 23 at 3 p.m.

“The team had another successful year based on all the hard work done during the off season. All that practice allowed the players to improve in their tennis fundamentals, strategy and game play,” said Coach Pia. “The team has a good chance to advance in the playoffs if they play up to their tennis ability and implement smart strategy in singles and doubles play. Every team is good in the playoffs. We need to be ready and maintain our focus at all times.”

The Colonials were led all season by "tremendous play" from singles players Alyssa Drell and Saskia DaSilva, Coach Pia said, also crediting his doubles teams for playing well throughout the year and contributing to the team’s success.

“I'm very pleased with the team's performance this year,” said Coach Pia. “This was technically a ‘rebuilding’ year. However, all the hard work, dedication and commitment by the players and their knowledge of wanting to maintain our successful tennis tradition helped and inspired them to another successful year.”

This year’s squad returned seven players from last year’s team including first singles player Alyssa Drell, who as a junior earned All-County honors and was an All-State runner-up. Saskia DaSilva, who was All-Division last year, anchors the second singles position. Cassidy Conway, Casey Musselman, Natalie Schwab, Daniella Farrauto and Gabriela Cataldo round out the singles line-up. The doubles line-up includes Amanda Jones, Chandni Patel, Lindsey Boocock, Isabella Saladin, Sophia Johnson and Hailey O’Connor.