Despite a long layoff due to the April vacation break, the Pioneers’ girls tennis team was in fine form Monday afternoon at the high school, taking care of business with a 4-1 win over visiting Bishop Fenwick.
Head coach Craig Stone said the team worked on its own to stay sharp during the long layoff.
“The kids were able to get out and hit a little on their own during the week,” Stone said. “It comes to the point where with college visits and family vacations, you try to run a practice and everybody’s schedule means they’re not going to be able to make it, so they’re better off just getting together with a teammate and doing some hitting when they can.”
The Pioneers’ Leticia Marafon and Ella Hayman (1-2) pulled out a close one in two sets at first doubles over Lacey Murphy and Caroline O’Hare in a two-hour plus marathon. They took the first set in a tiebreaker, 7-6, then closed out the match with a 6-4 win in the second set to pick up their first win of the season.
“First doubles has the skills and strategy needed to be a successful team,” Stone said. “They just need to get over the psychological hump of winning a tight match. Hopefully, this win springboards them to many more wins this season.”
Lynnnfield swept its three singles matches. Paige Martino (3-0) defeated Gwen Schroeder 6-1, 6-3 in the first singles match. Lily Alves (3-0) defeated Callie Reed 6-2, 6-0 at second singles and Maddie Sieve (2-1) defeated Ari Summa 6-3, 6-0 at third singles.
Stone said the surprise of the season, so far, has been Alves at second singles.
“She’s just such a great athlete. You saw what she did last year at first dubs, basically playing no competitive tennis at all before then,” Stone said. “Once field hockey was over, she just worked incredibly hard getting ready for the spring and Paige just has a lot of tools in the tool box. Maddie is just a warrior. She’ll hang in there. I need her to hit out a little bit more – just to play with a little more confidence. She likes playing someone with a little pace, somebody who pushes her a little bit.”
Fenwick’s Jackie Dormer and Maggie Wichroski picked up the only Crusaders’ win. The duo prevailed 6-3, 6-4 over Lynnfield’s Vicky McGann and Emma Wagon in the second doubles match. Dormer/Wichroski have only lost one match this season.
“Vicky and Emma, a first-year freshman, are still trying to figure out how to play doubles as sometimes they tend to play a little too much singles,” Stone said. “They are learning how to extend points a little and not try to get it all at once and allow the other team to make a mistake.”
First-year Fenwick coach, who also doubled up as the team’s van driver, said she is pleased with the Crusaders’ performance so far this year.
“I think the girls have had a great time this year, but the numbers alone don’t show how competitive the matches have been with many long rallies and the girls have had tons of fun,” said first-year Fenwick head coach Sharon Church. “This match today has lovely conditions for the first time this season, so it’s a good day to play.”
