NY Tennis Team Clinches 24th Straight Playoff Berth

Twenty-four years of playoff appearances sounds impossible, but the William Floyd girls' tennis team just made it happen again.

The Colonials clinched their division championship this season with an 8-1 league record and 13-3 overall finish. That success earned them the No. 2 seed in the Section XI playoff bracket and a first-round bye.

Head coach Dave Pia, a two-time USTA Coach of the Year, credits much of this season's magic to a talented senior class. Lydia Van Cott and Gianna Martin provided versatile play in both singles and doubles, while Anabel Van Cott, Rylie Wiegand, and Tatiana Sanchez anchored the doubles teams with steady leadership.

The team's depth made all the difference. Senior Katelynn DeLuca, junior Emma Hodgson, and eighth-grader Addisyn Cummings delivered crucial singles victories throughout the season.

On the doubles side, sophomore Ava Asendorf, junior Emma Drees, freshman Madison Hodgson, sophomore Gabriella Montalbano, and junior Madison Edwards stepped up in key moments. Their performances proved instrumental in some of the team's biggest wins.

The Ripple Effect

This isn't just about one successful season. The program has now won four division titles over the past six years, creating a culture where younger players learn from seasoned veterans and excellence becomes the expectation rather than the exception.

The Van Cott sisters are taking their talent to the Suffolk County individual doubles tournament, where they'll aim to return to the championship match. Last year, they advanced to the round of 16 at the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Girls' Tennis State Championships.

The team hosts their opening playoff match on October 8 at 2 pm against either Walt Whitman or Patchogue-Medford. With a roster that spans from eighth grade to seniors, the future looks bright for years to come.

When a program maintains playoff excellence for nearly a quarter century, it proves that dedication, great coaching, and team spirit never go out of style.