SLIDELL — The state tennis regionals were held at UNO Lakefront Tennis Center., and the Pope John Paul tennis teams had several qualify to advance to the state tennis tournament in Monroe.
At regionals, winning first round matches for PJP was Abby Jovanovic and Sydney Gressaffa with a score of 6-1, 7-5 over Madeline Erickson and Madlynn Salvout Archbishop Hannan’s #1 line. Jovanovic and Gressaffa played doubles last year, but this year had different partners all season.
“They came out relaxed and played extremely well the first set winning 6-1 against Hannan,” PJP?head coach Julie Calamari said.
Jovanovic and Gressaffa then had to face Newman’s duo of Cassidy Link and Lindsey Paige who was more experienced than Pope’s with a score of 6-1, 6-1. The Green Waves took control, but PJP fought hard. The other state contender for PJP was line 2 doubles of Spencer Bogran and Bryce Kendrick. They won easily in straight sets 6-1, 6-1 over Archbishop Hannan’s #2 line, but then had to face Newman’s #1 line of Clayton Kallenborn and Leson Rebone which was a much tougher and more experienced team.
PJP’s line 1 doubles team of Henry J. Calamari and Blake Everard had to face Newman first round and lost to William Whann and Grayson Wormser 6-2, 6-3.
Representing PJP in singles was Kristin Calamari, four-year letterman and state qualifier as a sophomore, had to face Newman’s Christina Karl in a first round match with a score of 6-4, 6-3 but was unable to take the victory. This match went back and forth with 20 rallies for each point.
“Overall I was proud of all of the Jaguars. They gave it a 100 percent and never gave up with the hot weather conditions,”?Calmari said.
Jovanovic is a senior and a four-year player. Her partner, Sydney Gressaffa, is a sophomore. Gressaffa was also a member of the state soccer championship Class 2A.
Spencer Bogran is also a senior and a four-year player, and his partner, Bryce Kendrick, is a senior and first-year player.