Undefeated Long Beach nets crown

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Long Beach girls’ tennis coach Tony Stricklin is retiring in style.
Thanks to the stellar play of the three top singles players and clutch performances by the doubles pairs, the Marines made their return to Conference III a successful one by capturing their first division title in four years with a perfect 14-0 regular-season record.
The run culminated with a 7-0 victory over Valley Stream Central on Monday, Long Beach’s sixth shutout of the fall and second in as many meetings with the Eagles. The playoffs started Wednesday against an opponent that had yet to be determined at press time.
Stricklin captured two conference titles during his tenure that lasted over a decade, the other coming in 2018 when the team last played in III. The team struggled mightily in Conference II-B the previous three seasons and were relegated back to III because of their last-place finish in 2021.
“[I’m] very proud of their accomplishment,” Stricklin said after Monday’s match. “[Going] undefeated was a bonus, but it wasn’t my goal. Improving, doing your best, respecting the game, and having fun is what I emphasized.”

The closest Long Beach came to losing was during its first meeting with Wantagh on Sept. 16. Playing without top singles player Shaianne Fischer, the Marines went 2-1 in singles competition and the Warriors defeated two doubles pairs before the fourth doubles team of seniors Molly Zec and Chloe Silverberg rallied for the exciting victory.
“It put some pressure on us,” Stricklin said of playing without Fischer.
Fischer went 13-0 in the top spot after going 8-6 in the same role as a freshman. Stricklin lauded her for her off-season training regimen and used her as an example on how hard work can lead to success.
“Shaianne has really made quite a difference on the team,” Stricklin said. “It’s nice to have someone that’s been trained at the level she’s been trained at because you can always point to her and say, ‘this is what we’re trying to do and accomplish in terms of our skill development.’”  
Seniors Hailey Brandt and Jordan Collinson swapped the second and third spots this season and the move paid dividends after both went 14-0. Brandt split time on third singles and first doubles last year, but her “unconventional” playing style made her hard to beat in her second singles role this year.
“I said, “I’ve seen players like you and you continue to work at what you do, there’s going to come a time where you’re going to be extremely difficult to beat,” Stricklin recalled telling Brandt earlier in her varsity career.
Sophomores Isabella Alley and Ava Mosey impressed with a 12-1 mark when playing together as the third doubles team while showing incredible chemistry on the court, according to Stricklin. Zec and Silverberg lost just once in 11 matches this fall.
Freshman lefty Winter Collinson and sophomore righty Lilan Garfinkel used their contrasting handiness to their advantage and finished 10-2. Sophomore Abigail Smucker and freshman Annie Wachs went 7-4 when teamed together in second doubles.