- December 4, 2025
FPC's Josh Thorpe returns a shot in the No. 1 boys doubles match. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Matanzas coach Jens Oliva and FPC coaches Javier Bevaqua and George Henry hold the City Championship trophy. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Matanzas No. 1 singles and doubles player Stan Valenteychik. Photo by Brent Woronoff
FPC senior Anya Subachev, the Bulldogs' No. 1 singles player. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Freshman Marina Carlisi, the Bulldogs' No. 3 singles player. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Matanzas' Daniel Faraj hits a return in No. 1 doubles. Photo by Brent Woronoff
FPC No. 2 singles player Aaron Lieberman. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Matanzas freshman Stan Valenteychik hits a forehand. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Matanzas' Daniel Faraj serves in the No. 1 doubles match. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Matanzas' boys tennis team defeated Flagler Palm Coast 5-2 on Monday, Feb. 13, at the Bulldogs' tennis courts. But Matanzas needed to be perfect to tie FPC for the City Championship Cup.
That's because FPC's girls were perfect, defeating the Pirates 7-0.
The Bulldogs' combined 9-5 victory allowed them to retain the Cup for the eighth consecutive year.
Still, the coaches can't remember the last time the Matanzas boys beat the Bulldogs.
"The boys finally beat FPC," Pirates coach Jens Oliva exclaimed. "It's been a long time. We're lucky enough to have some freshmen come up with some talent."
Four of the Pirates' five boys singles players are freshmen. Three of them won their matches, including Stan Valenteychik, who defeated Josh Thorpe at No. 1 singles, 8-3.
Matanzas also won both doubles matches. Valenteychik and Daniel Faraj at No. 1 won the closest match of the day, beating Thorpe and Aaron Leiberman 9-8 (10-8).
Matanzas' Owen Brady and Bradd Humphrey — the Pirates' lone senior — won at No. 2 doubles.
FPC's Aaron Lieberman and Jack Mikutel won at Nos. 2 and 3 singles, respectively, for the Bulldogs' only points. Brady won at No. 4, and FPC, which was missing three of its seven players, forfeited the No. 5 match.
The FPC girls had an easy time, losing just four games in seven matches. Ania Martynuk (No. 2), Taiana Leontayva (No. 4) and Marina Carlisi and Leontayva (No. 2 doubles) all won 8-0.
Anya Subachev (No. 1), Carlisi (No. 3) and Subachev and Martynuk (No. 1 doubles) all won 8-1.
The Bulldog girls improved to 3-0 on the season.
"From 1 to 8 we're very strong," said FPC girls coach Javier Bevacqua.
