Rye Neck Doubles Team Defies Odds, Advances to Section Quarterfinals

“Just happy to be here” isn’t an endearing term in sports. It’s used when a team has advanced much farther than anyone – even the squad itself – expected them to, but right before they’re smashed by a high-caliber opponent in a championship-level round.

And while Rye Neck’s doubles team of Diana King and Ekim Buyuk – both eighth graders – were visibly ebullient October 28 at the Section 1 Tournament in Ardsley, it was clear they never received the memo about rolling over.

Diana King

The young Panthers squared off with Nyack’s Kristen Soeder and Clarissa Armada in the first round, and battled to a 3-3 score in the first game. What was an even contest turned from that point, however, as Buyuk and King secured nine straight games to move on to the quarterfinals with a 6-3, 6-0 victory.

Eighth Grade Standouts Propel Panthers to Perfection

It’s no stunner that the Rye Neck girls’ tennis team is atop the standings with a league record of 4-0. They were among the elite squads in 2009. The twist this season – get ready to eat your heart out, M. Night Shyamalan – is that the Panthers’ top two players, Ekim Buyuk and Diana King, aren’t even in high school yet.

Ekim Buyuk

And while Rye Neck’s neophyte eighth graders aren’t quite “unbreakable”, they’ve been pretty darn close so far in 2010. Buyuk and King rotate between first and second singles, and led the way in the Panthers’ 5-2 defeat of visiting Croton-Harmon September 29. Buyuk kept her undefeated mark intact against the Tigers, besting Hannah Moy 6-2, 6-3 in a first singles duel.

Morning Round-up: Playoff picture comes into focus

The postseason Sectional schedules are now official for our local public high schools, Rye and Rye Neck. The FAA and NYSAIS tournaments begin midway through next week for private schools Rye Country Day and Holy Child.

Morning Round-up: Garnets roll against Somers

Rye’s field hockey team picked up their 10th win in 11 games Monday, defeating Somers 6-0 at home on senior night. They’ve outscored opponents 39-1 in their 10 victories.

Olivia Nabhan unleashes a goal-scoring shot

Torie Stearns scored two goals and dished three assists, while Olivia Nabhan scored two goals as well. The Garnets led 2-0 at the half, and then unleashed some devastating shots on the Tuskers in the second half. Annie VanWagenen scored off of a short corner, firing a rocket that was the perfect shot in that situation. Nabhan then made a superb play while driving to her right, by letting rip on a shot that found its way into the back left of the goal. Stearns dazzled Somers later in the half, cutting through a red storm of defenders — six in all — by herself to put her team up 5-0.

“We’ve been playing well lately,” said head coach Emily Fitzgerald. “We have some talented players who are great individually and working hard together as a team.”

Panthers bare fangs in League tournaments

While the Rye Neck girls’ tennis team finished second to Briarcliff for the League III-B title, the Panthers had the last laugh in the League singles and doubles tournaments.

Senior captain Midori Takasaki defeated two Bears, one after the other. She topped Olivia Tane 6-3, 7-6 (4) in the semifinals of the singles tournament October 13 on her opponents’ home court, and then bested Sachi Da’ve in the championship finale 6-3, 6-2. In the doubles final, the Panthers’ Caroline Lambillotte and Kalypso Buitoni beat Briarcliff’s Olivia Lacy-Thompson and Sam Muratori in a 6-3, 7-6 (3) thriller at Rye Neck.

Morning Round-up: Rye Neck wins doubles title

One day after teammate Midori Takasaki won the League III-B singles championship, Rye Neck’s tandem of Caroline Lambillotte and Kalypso Buitoni captured the League doubles championship by defeating Briarcliff’s top team 6-3, 7-6 (3). The match was thrilling, and featured the power game of Buitoni and Lambillotte’s uncanny ability to stretch the court. For more on this match, Takasaki’s win, and the Panthers’ stellar season, check back here later this week and in the hard copy of The Rye Record that hits the stands October 23.

The 2009 Rye Neck girls' tennis team

The Rye girls’ soccer team kept their unbeaten streak alive at home in a 1-0 win against Byram Hills. Catharine Greer scored the lone goal of the game on an assist from Maddy Chabot, and Lexi Hijazi made 10 saves in goal for the shutout. Dating back to last season, the nationally-ranked team is now undefeated over the course of 18 games, and has an 11-0-1 record this season. The Garnets have outscored opponents 42-5 during their incredible run.

Morning Round-up: Panthers close to League title

Although they were unable to finish the match due to lack of light, the Rye Neck girls’ tennis team gave Briarcliff all they could handle Wednesday at home. The match was stopped with the score knotted 3-3 and only the fourth doubles duel undetermined. When the action stopped, the Panthers’ Janell Smith and Cassie Swinghammer were tied 5-5 in the first set. The match will continue Thursday, October 15, at Rye Neck.

The Panthers took two of the three singles matches, with No. 2 Caroline Lambillote besting Olivia Lacy Thompson 7-5, 6-2. The match was a scintillating affair, with hard-fought — and hard-hitting — points. Kalypso Buitoni was also a winner in the No. 3 spot. She won, 6-1, 7-5. Rye Neck’s first singles star, Midori Takasaki, lost her first match of the year 7-6 (2), 6-2.

Midori Takasaki

Takasaki battled, but the extremely windy conditions admittedly took an edge off of her precision game. Nevertheless, the affable senior captain could not be happier with the year her team has had.

Morning Round-up: Panthers prepared for showdown

The Rye Neck girls’ tennis team defeated Pleasantville 6-2 at home yesterday, and improved to 9-2 overall and 8-1 in the league. They play Briarcliff, 8-0 in the league, tomorrow at home in a big-time battle for division supremacy. Caroline Lambillotte, Kalyspo Buitoni, and Kyra Babakian led the way over Pleasantville by sweeping the singles portion of the match. The teams of Sage Reisner and Melissa Martini, Cassie Swinghammer and Janell Smith, and Alexandra Tartaglia and Rita Orazi won in doubles.

Morning Round-up: Rye Country Day now 3-0

With a resounding 5-0 win on the road at Greens Farms, Rye Country Day’s field hockey team improved to 3-0. The tenacious Wildcats jumped on their opponents early, and were led by senior captain Isabel Beshar’s two goals. Fellow senior captain Hannah Lowentheil chipped in a goal, as did Jess Hanway and Nealy Nimocks. Amanda Shulman dished three assists, and Allie Farber and Nimocks each had one. In 45 minutes of action, goaltender Kate Moelis made three saves. Backup Sammy Coughlin did not have to make any in clean-up duty.

Senior captain Isabel Beshar

Since beginning the playoffs in 2008, Lia Bellizzi and the Rye girls’ soccer team have morphed into a force of nature. Following a 1-0 victory over Byram Hills in Armonk, the Garnets are now unbeaten in their last 13 games dating back to last season, and hold a sterling 7-0-1 record so far in 2009. Bellizzi, a junior, delivered the game-winner 10 minutes into the second half against Byram, and fellow junior Tatiana Saunders made seven saves in goal for the shut out. Over the course of their 13-game unbeaten streak, Rye has outscored opponents an astounding 30-3. Up next are a pair of border battles with Port Chester (on the road tonight) and Harrison (at home Saturday under the lights).

Morning Round-up: Four straight shutouts for Rye

Rye’s field hockey team continued to roll Wednesday in a 4-0 win against visiting Fox Lane. The victory was the fourth consecutive for the Garnets, as well as their fourth straight shutout. They are now 4-1-1, and have outscored opponents 11-0 during the streak.

Kaitlin Campbell

Senior captain Torie Stearns led the way with two goals, and fellow senior captain Olivia Nabhan recorded two assists. G.G. Fitzgerald and Annie VanWagenen each had a goal. The defense was stellar, highlighted by the fact that goalkeeper Kaitlin Campbell didn’t have to make a single save.