Marathon match caps York Catholic's sweep of Susquehannock

A key 20 minute stretch proved to be the deciding factor in York Catholic's decisive 7-0 tennis win against Susquehannock.

However, it was a 2-hour and 24-minute match that stole the show in the frigid conditions at Springettsbury Park on Thursday afternoon.

Playing on the second cluster of courts in match No. 5, York Catholic's Jacob Kondrasuk engaged in a battle reminiscent of his three-set thriller at Hanover 16 days ago.

When the mist cleared, Kondrasuk emerged victorious over John Yancheski, 6-7, 6-1, 6-4.

"That match outlasted the other six matches, and it speaks to the commitment of the two players," said York Catholic head coach Paige Mundy.

"Once you get going, you don't feel (the cold)," Kondrasuk said. "I got a good sweat going after the first few points."

Starting at the same time as the other four singles matches, it was not over until a solid 10 minutes after both doubles contests.

The Bartowiak brothers, Scott and Nick, quickly put the Fighting Irish up 2-0 without dropping a single game at No. 2 and 3 singles.

Meanwhile, on Court 1, York Catholic's Michael Andrews finished his 6-0 first set with a backhand down the line to end an 11-stroke rally at 40-30.

"I didn't really know too much of what's going on (in the other matches)," Andrews said. "I can only see up here on the first three courts. I couldn't see what was going on behind me."

What was going on was a tight match in No. 4 singles between York Catholic's Isaac Higgins and freshman Brenden Paules.

Trailing 3-2, Paules broke serve. However on Paules' next service game, Higgins chased down a lob that got behind him and flung a desperation return back over his shoulder with his back to net. He then rallied to win the point, spring-boarding a break of serve at love to go back in front, 4-3.

While Higgins dominantly closed out the set, Susquehannock's Anthony Iannuzzi broke Andrews in the first game of the second set.

"With victories in court 2 and 3, I knew the impetus was for a strong second set on 1, 4 and 5," Mundy said. "With 1 and 4 securing the first sets, that put us in good position."

Kondrasuk, however, dropped the first set in a 7-1 tiebreak.

"I felt like I have to get that one, because I knew I'd have to work really hard to get it back," Kondrasuk said.

Yancheski held serve in the first game of the second set, but Kondrasuk ran off the next six games in a row to win the set.

After breaking to go up 2-1, he saved three break points in his second service game to make it 3-1.

"After I got those three games, I felt the momentum changing, and I tried to just ride that," Kondrasuk said.

Higgins quickly wrapped up his second set to put York Catholic up 3-0.

On Court 1, Andrews could see the finish line as he pushed ahead 4-2.

He delivered the back-breaker at 30-40 on Iannuzzi's serve.

A 31-stroke rally ended with Iannuzzi at net.

Andrews chased down two strong volleys, sending the second return clicking off Iannuzzi's frame for the break.

"I kept telling myself, 'Be patient, be patient. He'll hit it out eventually,'" Iannuzzi said. "I can return every shot he hit, I iust had to keep hitting it in."

Andrews served out the match to clinch for York Catholic, and Kondrasuk finished the third set with a break.

York Catholic 7, Susquehannock 0 at York Catholic

Singles — Michael Andrews, YC<

Doubles — Andrews-S. Bartkowiak, YC, def. Iannuzzi-Gervasio, 8-3. N. Bartkowiak-Higgins, YC, def. Glispy-Paules, 8-4.