Caesar Rodney girls' tennis team driven by chance to net second straight state title
CAMDEN — Caesar Rodney High had waited five years to win another DIAA team state title in girls’ tennis.
So when the Riders finally clinched the championship last May, it was the …
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Caesar Rodney girls' tennis team driven by chance to net second straight state title
By Andy WalterCAMDEN — Caesar Rodney High had waited five years to win another DIAA team state title in girls’ tennis.
So when the Riders finally clinched the championship last May, it was the best feeling in the world.
“It was great,” said senior Ally Lebendig. “It was hard — lots of ups and downs. More ups than downs. ... It just felt surreal,”
So how long did it take CR’s players to start talking about winning another state crown this spring?
“Five minutes,” said Lebendig.
With most of their lineup returning, there was no reason to think the Riders wouldn’t be contenders again.
And here they are.
With one match left in the regular season, CR is 12-0, running its winning streak to 49 matches in a row. The Riders can get to 50 straight on Monday when they play a 3:30 p.m. match at Appoquinimink.
More than that, CR has won all 12 of its matches by perfect 5-0 scores. The Riders haven’t accomplished that feat since 2011 when they went two regular seasons in a row without losing a team point.
Coach Dan Candeloro said having so many competitive players on the squad just keeps CR pushing to improve.
“They came in wanting to go back to where we were last year,” he said. “And obviously that’s hard. You don’t know what you’re up against.
“Their work ethic is unmatched. They come every practice to compete. We are able to make each other better within practice. Some schools don’t have that luxury.”
In their run of 49 straight wins, the Riders have had just five 4-1 victories. But with the state tournament coming up in two weeks, there’s always room for improvement.
Sophomore Gracie Clark lost in the first singles state semifinals as a freshman. She hasn’t lost a set this season and has dropped only three games so far.
“I always want to do the best that I can,” said Clark. “My goal is just to win. I’ve still got to do what I can do to win. I’ve still got to put in the work.
“It helps when they want to win as much as I want to win,” she said about her teammates.
Junior Ava Vu moved up from first doubles to second singles this season. A year ago, she teamed up with Noelle Snyder at first doubles to capture the state title.
Like Clark, Vu hasn’t lost a set while losing just five games all season. She thinks playing doubles last year improved her game.
“It is different,” said Vu, a junior. “I think it was really helpful that I did doubles because it worked on my net skills, which I kind of lacked in.
“As a singles player, sure, I don’t go up to the net all the time. But, when I do, those skills have definitely helped me.”
Of course, all of CR’s top players are undefeated this season. That includes Snyder at third singles, Yatra Patel and Maxine Banaag at first doubles and Pia Patel and Lebendig at second doubles.
The Riders have only four seniors on the roster with just two — Lebendig and Yatra Patel — in the starting lineup.
Yatra Patel admits that falling short of a doubles state title two seasons ago was pretty strong motivation last spring.
“We had a tough one year the year before so it was good to finally get it done,” she said. “Losing definitely helped because then we were like, ‘Well, we were so close.’
“And then winning, it was all our hard work put together. It was great. I would love to experience that again.”
CR, of course, will be the heavy favorite to win the Henlopen Conference title when it hosts the tournament next Thursday and Friday. The Riders have won the girls’ team championship 18 times since 1979.
In the DIAA state tournament, CR and Dover have combined to win six of the last seven girls’ team titles.
“When you get to the conference and state tournaments, it’s one vs. one and anything can happen,” said Candeloro. “The teams you played early in the season, they’re had all season to get better.
“Every day you’ve got to come out and get better.”
This year’s CR’s players are just thinking about winning their second state championship in a row. The chance to capture back-to-back state championships is what has been motivating them since last season ended.
“I feel like everyone comes out every day ready to play — determined,” said Lebendig. “We all motivate each other. We all work together to make each other better every day.
“If we can go all season winning 5-0, you can’t get any better than that.”
Extra points
•The boys’ Henlopen tournament will be played at Cape Henlopen on Friday and Saturday. The Riders’ boys have captured the Henlopen team crown 24 times since 1974, including the last 13 in a row.
•The DIAA state tournaments are slated to start on May 18 and conclude on May 22.
Sports editor Andy Walter can be reached at awalter@iniusa.org. Follow on X at @DSNsports.
