Tennis: Gulf Breeze ousts Arnold girls, Bay boys

GULF BREEZE — Gulf Breeze ended the season for Arnold and Bay tennis squads on Thursday in the Region 1-2A team finals. In replicating their victories over the Bay County schools last April, both of the Dolphins’ teams qualified for next week’s state tournament.

Both results were 7-0, Arnold’s girls finishing their season 10-3 overall as the Marlins were unable to win a set against the perennially strong Gulf Breeze girls.

Bay’s 7-0 loss in the boys division was somewhat misleading. Tornadoes coach Kay Kovaleski noted that doubles competition was held first, and when Bay dropped a pair of three-set heartbreakers its season essentially was over.

“Their spirits were so deflated,” she said. “We worked so hard in split sets. I can’t say they didn’t try in singles, but that extra oomph that you need against Gulf Breeze wasn’t there anymore.

“My number two doubles team played the best tennis I’ve ever seen them play.”

Patrick Barry and Dylan McCormick fell, however, 7-5, 6-7 (8-10), 6-3 to Allen Wang and Gus Anastopolou at No. 2. Bay’s No. 1 tandem of Jason Moody and Tyler Barr, who qualified for state by winning the district last week, this time were reversed by Clay Pfeifler and Josh Goldstein 7-6 (7-4), 5-7, 6-3.

Barr, who qualified for state at No. 1 singles by defeating Pfeifler in the district finals, was downed 6-3, 6-3 this time and the Dolphins completed their sweep at the other singles slots.

Moody and Barr will leave Tuesday for Casselberry and begin play Wednesday in the Class 2A individual state tournament.

Gulf Breeze boys  7, Bay 0

• Singles — No. 1: Clay Pfeifler (GB) def. Jason Moody 6-3, 6-3, No. 2: Gus Anastopolou def. Tyler Barr 6-3, 6-0, No. 3: Allen Wang (GB) def. Pat Barry 6-3, 6-0, No. 4: Josh Goldstein (GB) def. Dylan McCormick 6-2, 6-4, No. 5: Jay Martin (GB) def. Connor Healy 6-0, 6-0.
• Doubles — No. 1: Pfeifler-Goldstein def. Moody-Barr 7-6 (7-4), 5-7, 6-3, No. 2: Anastopolou-Wang def. Barry-McCormick 7-5, 6-7 (10-8), 6-3.

Gulf Breeze girls 7, Arnold 0

• Singles — No. 1: Jen Pfeifler (GB) def. Bianca Biglione 6-2, 6-0. No. 2: Tonya Walters (GB) def. Tori Pettofrezzo 6-2, 6-0. No. 3: Kelly Barnhill (GB) def. Emma Moskowitz 6-1, 6-0. No. 4: Katherine Farmer (GB) def. Kalyn Jordan 6-1, 6-2. No. 5: Lauren Halstead (GB) def. Natalia Busuttil 6-1, 6-0.
• Doubles — No. 1: Pfeifler-Walters def. Biglione-Pettofrezzo 6-2, 6-0. No. 2: Farmer-Torie Gray (GB) def. Moskowitz-Jordan 7-5, 6-2.