Update post publication:
North Reading defeats Boston Latin Academy 3-2 (6/1)
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Published June 1, 2023
By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI
NORTH READING — In their final match of the regular season on May 25, the North Reading High girls’ tennis team lost 5-0 at home to Lynnfield.
With the defeat, the Hornets ended up at 10-10 overall and 7-8 in the Cape Ann League. The Pioneers, meanwhile, finished at 12-6 overall and 9-4 in the CAL as they completed the season sweep over the Hornets.
“They have a good, solid program and should do very well in the Division 4 tournament,” said Hornets head coach Matt Tiberii.
Althea Bradley lost, 6-1, 6-1, at first singles while her sister, Alyssa, lost in three sets at second singles. She lost the first one, 6-2, but then won set two, 6-2. In the final set, it was a ten-game pro set and she fell, 10-6. Third-singles player, Bhagi Bandarawon, lost in straight sets, 6-0, 6-2.
In doubles action, the first team of Chloe Florez and Vanessa Wright lost 6-4, 7-6 (7-4 in the tiebreaker). The second team of Mary Bonzagni and Aniya Teneja also fell in straight sets, 6-1, 6-2.
The day before the Lynnfield match, the Hornets blanked Amesbury, 4-0, on the road in the lone meeting between the two schools.
“That was a good win for us,” said Tiberii. “We didn’t get to finish one of the matches due to the rain that came in late.”
In that rained out match, at first doubles, Katherine Hoadley and Bonzagni won the first set, 6-2, and were up 2-1 in the second set when the rains came in.
Althea Bradley won, 6-1, 6-2, while Alyssa won, 6-0, 6-2, at number two. Wright played third singles and she won, 6-1, 6-2.
The second doubles team of Florez and Teneja won, 6-2, 6-1.
On May 23, the Hornets lost, 5-0, at Manchester-Essex in their lone meeting of the season.
Althea Bradley lost, 6-1, 7-6 (7-4 in the tiebreaker). Alyssa Bradley played one eight-game pro set at number two and lost 8-1.
Wright fell 7-6 (7-4 in the tiebreaker), 6-1.
Florez and Hoadley lost at first doubles in three sets. They lost, 6-3, in the first one but won set two, 6-4. They then lost the rubber set, 6-4.
Bonzagni and Teneja fell, 6-4, 6-0, at second doubles.
“That match was much closer than the final would indicate,” said Tiberii. “Our first doubles played well as did Vanessa at number three.”
North Reading was seeded 13th by the MIAA in Division 3 which means they are going to host 20th-seeded Boston Latin Academy in the first round of the state tournament on Thursday, June 1 at 4 p.m.
Boston Latin Academy enters this match at 13-1.
“I like it when we don’t know our opponent and they don’t know us,” admitted Tiberii. “In the past (when there was a North Sectional), it seemed like we always played a Cape Ann League team early.”
If the Hornets win that match they will face the winner of the No. 4 Belchertown (15-3) vs. No. 29 Dedham (6-10) match in the Round of 16 (date unknown as of press time).
