It was a grueling – frankly, challenging – week for the Pioneers’ girls tennis team, which took on not one, but two defending state champions in a span of just three days after returning to action following April vacation.
Thursday, the Pioneers turned tables on the 2023 and 2024 Division 3 champion Newburyport Clippers with a 5-0 sweep at home. The Pioneers had not beaten the Clippers since 2019.
First singles Paige Martino got off to a slow start, trailing 1-4 in the first set, but ran off five straight games to take a 1-0 lead. She never trailed in the second set, clinching the match with a 6-2 win. Lily Alves fell behind 0-2, but rallied to take the second singles match, 6-4, 6-1.
The second doubles team of Kathleen Brown and Christine Choi clinched the match with a 6-3, 6-3 win.
“They have continued to show remarkable poise and consistency this season,” said Coach Craig Stone.
Ella Hayman and Vicky McCrann dominated the first doubles match, winning it, 6-2, 6-3. In the longest match of the day, Kami Khiat completed the sweep with a come-from-behind win at third singles, 4-6, 6-3 (10-6).
In a 5-0 win against Triton, the Pioneers didn’t skip a beat, despite missing Martino, who had the day off. Alves moved up to first singles and shined, winning 6-0, 6-1. McCrann took the second singles match, 7-5, 6-1 and Brown, in her singles debut, battled her way to a 4-6, 6-1 (11-9) win at third singles. Emma Wagon and Hayman partnered together for the first time and cruised to a 6-0, 6-0 win at first doubles, while Charlotte Rose and Charlotte Beccia, in their first varsity match, took the second doubles match, 6-2, 6-1.
“We showcased our flexibility and depth,” Stone said. “We are fortunate, with our level of play and number of players, to challenge them by having them play different positions and with different partners and still get a favorable outcome.”
And in a rematch of last year’s Division 4 final (won by Hamilton-Wenham, 5-0) the Pioneers lost a close one, 3-2, on the Wenham Tea House courts.
Martino dropped the first singles match, 0-6, 1-6.
“Paige’s match was much closer than the score indicates,” Stone said. “Her opponent seemed to come up with the big shot at just the right time to get the win.”
Alves took no prisoners in the second singles match, winning 6-0, 6-1.
“Lily rolled and was in control of the match from start to finish,” Stone said.
Fiona Asad made her singles debut, dropping a tight 6-7, 1-6 decision at third singles.
Hayman/McCrann came from behind to take the first doubles match, 4-6, 6-1, 6-3.
“They got off to a slow start, facing a lefty/righty team, but gained their composure after dropping the first set, and played more consistently together from the ground and at the net,” Stone said.
Wagon and Nandan Nishanth came up short at second doubles, 5-7, 2-6.
“They had their chances, but Hamilton-Wenham was able to control play at the net at crucial times,” Stone said. “It is always interesting returning from vacation break and jumping back into competitive play. We did not get the ‘W,’ but certainly will be motivated for the rematch at tournament time.”
