Losing the opening contest of a new season is, usually, not part of a coach’s game plan, but sometimes, there are times when a loss may be an indication of good things to come.
Just ask Lynnfield High girls tennis coach Craig Stone, whose Pioneers faced two-time Division 3 state champion Newburyport April 9 on the sparkling new high school tennis complex and gave a good battle, only to go down swinging, 3-2.
“It was opening day and the debut of our new tennis courts,” Stone said. “It would have been nice to get a win, but losing to a team that had just won back-to-back state championships bodes well for further success down the road.”
The Pioneers rebounded with a solid 4-1 win against Ipswich the next day.
“It was a good quality win as Ipswich has been in state tournament play the last few years and will return again,” Stone said. “Getting that first win helps to set the tone for future matches and is always a motivational boost.”
Junior Paige Martino took the first singles match 6-2, 6-4. Sophomore Lily Alves prevailed at second singles, 6-1, 6-1, and senior Maddie Sieve completed the singles sweep with a 6-1, 6-1 sweep at third singles.
“It was offense vs. defense at first singles with Paige controlling most of the points on offense,” Stone said. “Lily combined both offense and defense in her straight-set win, while Maddie worked her way into a comfortable rhythm and controlled most of the action.”
Sophomore Vicky McCrann and freshman Emma Wagon won the second doubles match 6-3, 6-4. Senior Leticia Marafon and junior Ella Hayman lost a close one at first doubles, 6-7, 5-7.
“First doubles had a see-saw match, but could not find the knockout punch in crunch time,” Stone said. “Second doubles picked up their first varsity win as a team and Emma picked up her first varsity win as well. They led in both sets all the way, but the Ipswich tandem kept the match close.”
The Newburyport match showcased the Clippers’ depth with the Clippers winning third singles and both doubles matches.
Martino and Alves improved to 2-0 with Martino taking the first singles match, 6-4, 6-2 and Alves, in her singles debut, winning at second singles in a three-set marathon, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3.
“Paige fell behind early but quickly asserted herself by hitting heavy topspin balls from the baseline and unsteadied her opponent,” Stone said. “Lily, who played first doubles last year, made her debut at singles a successful one.”
Sieve dropped the third singles match, 2-6, 4-6. Marafon and Hayman lost the first doubles match 3-6, 1-6 and McCrann and Wagon lost the second singles match 2-6, 0-6.
“Maddie started to find a rhythm during the second set, but was unable to hang on,” Stone said. “Both doubles struggled and found themselves playing from behind from start to finish.”
The Pioneers have 12 days off until their next match at home on April 22 against Bishop Fenwick.
