This year, the Jericho Girls Varsity Tennis Team are not only the division champs, but the Conference Champions as well. The team went undefeated, compiling an awesome final record of 12-0.

Coach O'Connell and team co-captains Melissa Skidell (senior) and Jamie Maldow (junior) led the way during this terrific season. However, it was the entire team effort and unrelenting pursuit of an undefeated record that made it all possible. The team had five seniors, six sophomores and three new recruits, sophomores Jenna Butner and Elaine Shum, and freshman Courtney Zale. Together, they all played great and practiced vigorously.

Some of Jericho's opponents this year were Garden City, Glen Cove, Manhasset, Great Neck North, North Shore and Wheatley. The tennis team clinched a trip to the playoffs by beating Glen Cove in a 4-3 nail-biter victory. After beating Glen Cove, they advanced to the semifinals of the playoffs and played Plainview/Old Bethpage at home on Thursday, Oct. 21. The result was a clean sweep, 7-0.

The team's next victim was going to be Wheatley, which had just defeated South Side. Jericho had beaten Wheatley twice during the regular season, but neither was an easy victory. Jericho met up with Wheatley at the Conference Final on Friday, Oct. 22, in East Meadow. They fought it out in the bitter cold, with Jericho clinching two quick victories by Wildcats Courtney Zale and Jenna Butner (2nd doubles) and Elissa Miller (2nd singles).

The Skidell girls, Joyce and Melissa, played next (4th doubles), losing a hard-fought game. Alison Altchuler and Michelle Tolkin (3rd doubles) then lost their match as well. Those matches tied the score at two all. Then, Elaine Shum (3rd singles) came up big and set Jericho ahead 3-2 in a great victory.

The last two courts had to finish at a nearby location that had lights, as it was getting too dark to see the ball. At this new location, Lindsay Fischer and Maddy Dorman (1st doubles) won in a tiebreaker in the third set. Jericho had clinched the match, but Jamie Maldow (1st singles) finished strongly in her third set against a consistent opponent who hit every ball back. The Jericho Varsity Girls Tennis Team finished the season as champpions.