Section 5 Maccabi Premiers L to R: Stella Fischbein, Ashlee Priester, Shei Isaacs, Zoe Magnezi, Danielle Nagar and Natalie Livna. Absent: Liam Shapiro, Jemma Zuker. A
Maccabi's section 5 junior girls team won the Premiership on Saturday, defeating Clarinda, 38 games to 29. The win was especially sweet as Clarinda had prevailed in their two prior meetings during the home and away season. However, the Maccabi girls won when it mattered most. It capped off a sensational season for the Maccabi girls, who had finished on top of the ladder after the regular season, just two points above Grand Final opponents, Clarinda.
The girls played with eight players in the team (Liam Shapiro and Jemma Zuker could not play in the Grand Final) but teamed well together. The future for women's tennis at Maccabi Tennis Club is bright - in July, the Club is expecting to field two junior girls' teams and there may be opportunities for some of the players to participate in an open age women's competition representing Maccabi.
As reward for their achievement, most of the girls will be promoted to a higher section and will continue to develop.
Section 5 Maccabi Premiers - Stella Fischbein, Liam Shapiro, Zoe Magnezi, Shei Isaacs, Danielle Nagar, Natalie Livnat, Ashlee Priester and Jemma Zuker
Maccabi has had a tough match but in the end a resounding win over Clarinda in the Grand Final, winning 5 sets to 1 and 38 games to 29.
Our top doubles pair of Zoe Manezi and Ashlee Priester started the day with a solid 6-3 win. The Doubles no. 2 team of Danielle Nagar and Natalie Livnat gave it everything but just fell short, losing 7-6 in a tiebreak.
In the Singles the girls were very strong and overcame strong, mostly older opponents.
No 1 Singles Stella Fischbein had a real struggle but emerged victorious 7-5.
No. 2 Shei Isaacs overcame a slow start then winning three consecutive games in the middle of the set to end up winning 6-4.
No. 3 Zoe Magnezi had to really dig deep but eventually won in a tiebreak 7-6.
N0. 4 Ashlee Priester led from start to finish to win her match 6-4.
Special mention must also go to Liam Shapiro and Jemma Zuker who though didn’t play in the Grand Final were both integral in the team finishing top after the home and away.
- Julian Isaacs, Team Manager
GRAND FINAL RESULT
MACCABI 5-38 DEF CLARINDA 1-29
Zoe Magnezi/Ashlee Priester 6-3
Danielle Nagar/Natalie Livnat 6-7
Stella Fischbein 7-5
Shei Isaacs 6-4
Zoe Magnezi 7-6
Ashlee Priester 6-4