"Much-heralded Star Deli slow-cooks its own tender temptations" — Danny Raskin Star Steve Stein I Contributing Writer T here's been no stopping Alexandra D'Ascenzo during the allegedly lazy, hazy days of sum- mer. The Cornell University junior wom- en's tennis team standout from West Bloomfield won both the singles and doubles championships in a 2015 Summer Intercollegiate Tennis Association Northeast tournament held last month at Cornell's Reis Tennis Center. She beat Cornell teammates for both titles. D'Ascenzo beat her doubles partner Dena Tanenbaum 7-6 (5), 6-0 for the singles championship. D'Ascenzo and Tanenbaum beat Nicole Johnson and Lizzie Stewart 8-2 in the doubles final. "That was awkward:' D'Ascenzo admit- ted. "I'm naturally competitive, so I want- ed to win, but it was weird trying to beat my teammates. I know it made our coach happy to see our team do so well:' D'Ascenzo was the tournament's No. 1 seed in singles, and she was dominant. She won four matches in straight sets, losing only 12 games, to reach the championship match. She beat Samantha Tutelman 6-2, 6-4 in the semifinals in her closest match before facing Tanenbaum. D'Ascenzo and Tanenbaum rolled to the doubles championship, winning four straight matches by a combined 32-6. They faced Cornell teammates in the semifinals, rolling past Madison Stevens and Priyanka Shah 8-1, before beating teammates Johnson and Stewart in the final. After spending a month at home earlier this summer, D'Ascenzo went back to Cornell to take a six-week organic chem- istry class that's required for her degree in human biology, health and society as she pursues a career as a physical therapist. The class is on an accelerated schedule because it's being held during the summer. "I'm getting a lot of information in a short period of time D'Ascenzo said. "But that's OK. It's the only class I'm taking and I'm not involved in tennis fulltime." D'Ascenzo has a 3.6 grade-point aver- age. She was named the Most Improved Player on the Cornell women's tennis team last season and she earned an All-Ivy League Second Team spot in doubles with Tanenbaum. She went 10-6 in singles and 10-6 in ELI lexandra D'Ascenzo doubles, including 7-4 at No. 2 singles and 7-3 at No. 1 doubles. The seven doubles wins were the most of any Cornell doubles player. D'Ascenzo and Tanenbaum played No. 1 doubles in all seven of Cornell's Ivy League matches and went 3-3 with one incomplete match. Cornell was 3-4 in the Ivy League, beating nationally ranked Columbia and Harvard. Stars of Tomorrow Application deadline is Aug. 31 for the Michigan Jewish Sports Foundation's new Stars of Tomorrow Scholarship program, an expansion of the Bill Hertz Memorial Scholarship program. Recently graduated Jewish high school seniors who plan to participate in sports in college can earn money toward tuition. Applicants will be judged on athletic and academic achievement, financial need, extracurricular activities and community service. Tuition will be paid for any col- lege, not just schools in Michigan. The foundation plans to present five $1,000 scholarships at its 31st annual Michigan Jewish Sports Hall of Fame induction banquet Oct 20. The key to the Stars of Tomorrow's growth is fundraising, said foundation executive director David Blatt. With the application deadline looming and the first recipients being named this year, Blatt is hoping the publicity will aid the fundrais- ing effort. For an application or answers to ques- tions, go to www.michiganjewishsports. org or call (248) 592-9323. Tough Loss Players in the InterCongregational Men's Club Summer Softball League have heavy hearts these days. Longtime league umpire Denny Brenner of Waterford died July 24 at age 82. Brenner was honored by the league in 2011 when he retired from umpiring league games. He'd been an umpire since the league's inception in 1996, and he umpired in Detroit-area leagues for more than 40 years. "Softball in the summer without Denny is like a hot-fudge sundae without ice cream:' InterCongregational league spokesman Chuck Freedman said after the 2011 ceremony honoring Brenner. Make your Summer Bar B Ques the BEST! Vienna Hot Dogs, Delicious Potato Salad and ole Slaw! Order your Holiday Trays & Specialties today! COMPARE OUR LOW PRICES WITH ANY DELICATESSEN IN TOWN. MEAT TRAY DAIRY TRAY SALAD TRAY $10.99perr— $21.49 person $11.49W— SALAD TRAY W/ LOX & CREAM CHEESE person OFF Potato Latkes * Handcut Lox Our Regular Tuna & Fat-Free Tuna Can't Be Beat! Vegetarian Chopped Liver Homemade Potato Salad & Coleslaw On Star's beautiful already: low-priced trays HOURS: MON-SAT 7AM-9PM • SUN 7AM-8PM 24555 W. 12 MILE ROAD Just west of Telegraph Road • Southfield 248-352-7377 $14.99 Expires 9/2/15. One Per Order. Not Good Holidays. I I 10 Person Minimum. 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