Liberty’s girls tennis team 4-2 victory over Bethlehem Catholic this past Monday set up an interesting city rivalry match on Tuesday, past Press deadlines, when the Hurricanes will have taken on Freedom, who lost to Becahi on Sept. 12.

“It’ll be a weird matchup because I don’t know what to expect,” said Liberty tennis coach Chris Conrad. “I don’t know many of their players, so it’s an odd situation for me and to game plan and to find what we’re going to do.”

In singles play on Monday, Helena Lynn (L) defeated Cara Magliochetti (BC), 6-0, 6-0, Lena Windhagen (BC) defeated Sruti Tekumalla (L), 6-4, 2-6, 6-3, and Stephanie Zheng (L) defeated Madi Lennert (BC), 6-2, 6-1.

In doubles play, Isabella Cantelmi and Bianca Justance (L) were the first to win their match against Hannah Miskovich and Madison Araniego (BC), 6-1, 6-0.

“We aced our serves a couple times, and that was pretty good, and putting the ball away at the net helped a lot,” Cantelmi said.

Becahi was also a challenge at the net for the ‘Canes.

“They kept hitting it to the alleys and I got pushed back,” said Justance.

Ava Burkhart and Claire Zaza (BC) were next to win in doubles against Sophia Csatari and Sofia Horstmann (L), 6-2, 4-6, 7-5.

“I think we just really wanted it,” said Zaza, “and I think I was being less cautious with my hits. I think that’s what happened in the second set. I was being too cautious and we were getting murdered.”

It was a match in which the Hawks soon realized they needed to play smart.

“They both moved to the one side of the court, which I think kind of threw us because we had to force it down the line or else she would get it at the net and slam it. They got points like that, and then [Claire] adjusted,” said Burkhart.

The win was especially satisfying for Zaza because Coach Conrad is her personal coach, and for Burkhart because it provoked emotion.

“I don’t think I’ve ever given a big hug, and I’m just happy that it happened. We never victory hug,” they laughed.

All eyes ultimately fell on the last doubles team to finish when Ava Sveti and Abigail Mayes (L) defeated Josie Fiorini and Elizabeth Schock (BC), 7-5, 6-2.

“I think the best tennis is still ahead of us,” Coach Conrad said. “There were matches we played in that were super close...If we get a chance to play in the post season, hopefully we can play top teams and knock some down. We have a girl like Helena (Lynn) who’s so solid at the first position and is undefeated that we have an idea of where we have a win. We just have to find two more wins.”