For the second straight year, the Syosset Lady Braves Varsity Girls Tennis team celebrated a championship victory after defeating Friends Academy (6-1) in the Nassau County Championships.

Syosset was the number one seed in the playoffs based on its 14-0 record during the regular season. The victory in the county finals, which followed a semifinal conquest of Roslyn (7-0), gave the Braves 32 consecutive victories over the last two years. Last year the Braves won their first county championship in tennis since 1979.

Coach Larry Levane stressed that getting ahead early in matches and playing hard, non-stop tennis were the keys to the team's success. "It takes the pressure off when you have an early lead," he said.

Levane believes the depth of his team played a major role in its success. Singles co-captain Erica Peltz had a great season at 11-5, as did second singles co-captain Amy Weissberg, who was 15-1. Peltz and Weissberg, as a doubles combination, received the distinction of All-State.

Third singles Shelly Goyal, a junior, was undefeated this year at 16-0. Also featuring an unblemished season were doubles players Alyssa Youngerman (16-0), Rachita Agarwal (16-0), Heather Zelkin (16-0) and Alexis Brill (9-0).

Doubles players Allison Kurtzman, Nicole Liebman, Rebecca Meyers, Jamie Zurlo and Lauren Neiderfer also turned in terrific seasons. Rounding out the team, and making strong contributions were Vicki McKay and Brooke Halpern.

Syosset Girls Tennis appears to be a strong power to be reckoned with in the future. The Braves now look to 1999 when they will try to three-peat.