Floyd's Van Cott Sisters Capture Conference Title

William Floyd’s Anabel and Lydia Van Cott made their mark on the Suffolk County girls tennis scene this week, capturing the conference doubles title with an impressive upset victory over the tournament’s top-seeded team from Sachem.

Entering the division tournament as the No. 2 seed, the Van Cott sisters battled their way into the finals, where they faced a formidable Sachem duo. With a smart game plan, strong teamwork and the ability to deliver under pressure, the William Floyd pair came through when it mattered most, winning the championship in straight sets.

The opening set was a competitive back-and-forth battle, but the Van Cotts maintained their composure and pulled away for a 6-4 victory. The second set brought even more drama as the sisters found themselves trailing 4-1. Rather than backing down, they rallied to even the score and force a 6-6 tiebreaker.

With the championship on the line, Anabel and Lydia continued to execute their strategy and held their nerve, winning the tiebreaker 7-5 to secure a 7-6 second-set victory and complete the upset.

The conference championship is a significant achievement for the sisters and another highlight for a William Floyd girls tennis program that has enjoyed a strong showing throughout the season.

The Colonials also made their presence felt across the doubles division, sending eight players to the county tournament — the most doubles qualifiers of any team in Suffolk County, according to head coach Dave Pia.

Joining the Van Cott sisters in advancing are Gianna Martin, Rylie Wiegand, Emma Drees, Tatiana Sanchez, Madison Hodgson and Ava Asendorf. All eight William Floyd student-athletes have earned All-Division honors, with the opportunity to compete for All-County recognition as the postseason continues.

Having so many players qualify for the county tournament reflects the depth of talent within the William Floyd program. While the Van Cotts celebrated a conference title, their teammates also earned the opportunity to test themselves against the county’s top competition.

The William Floyd girls tennis team will return to the courts Saturday for the county tournament, where the Colonials’ eight doubles qualifiers will look to build on their successful division tournament and make another strong impression against Suffolk County’s best.