Tennis doubles head to state tournament

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Neighbors | Submitted.Marisa Ricciardi, right, and Audrey Schweers, left, pose with their coach Annie Marian. Ricciardi and Schweers came in fourth place for the Poland Bulldogs tennis team at the districts meet and qualified for the state tournament.

Marisa Ricciardi and Audrey Schweers will take the Poland tennis team to the state tournament this weekend after placing fourth in the districts match. The duo defeated Laurel and Orange to qualify for their spot at the state tournament. They lost in the semi finals and come out of the districts as the number four seed.

Ricciardi, a sophomore, played in the first singles position all year and finished the season with a record of 15-2. Schweers, a junior, played in the second singles position with a 15-2 record, as well.

As a doubles team, Ricciardi and Schweers were sectional runners-up in 2014. This year, the duo defeated John F. Kennedy High School to claim the number one seed spot in the Youngstown area.

The girls started played as a doubles team last year and have worked hard to improve their performance. The girls are able to communicate very well, making them able to know each other’s games well. Their skills compliment each other and they are able to set each other up to take advantage of shots.

Ricciardi and Schweers are aggressive players who aren’t afraid to go into the net for volleys. The girls will use these skills in the state tournament this weekend, with their first match against Cincinatti Indian Hill on Oct. 16.