Published in the June 7, 2017 edition
By DAN TOMASELLO
LYNNFIELD — The girls’ tennis team opened the Division 3 North state tournament with a bang, as the first seeded Pioneers dismantled eighth seed Bishop Fenwick 5-0 in a quarterfinals match June 3.
SENIOR CAPTAIN Camie Foley cruised past her second singles counterpart in two sets, 6-1, 6-1, during the Pioneers’ 5-0 win over Bishop Fenwick in the Division 3 North quarterfinals June 3. (Dan Tomasello Photo)
“We played Fenwick earlier in the year,” said Pioneers head coach Craig Stone. “Everybody improves, so you don’t take anything for granted, but I didn’t anticipate an upset. I was pretty pleased. Tourney time is always exciting. We tend to always rise to the occasion and play our best tennis. We had a great crowd to come watch us, which is nice.”
Senior captain Sarah Mezini throttled junior Kerry Kircher in straight sets, 6-1, 6-0, during the first singles match. The match lasted less than an hour.
“Sarah is a just machine,” said Stone. “She goes out there and basically rolls everybody.”
Senior captain Camie Foley cruised past second singles counterpart Taylor Botthof in two sets, 6-1, 6-1.
“Camie has stepped up her game since last year,” said Stone. “When you go from first doubles to second singles, there can be some trying times. She has risen to the occasion most of the time she has gone out there. She has been pretty impressive to watch.”
In third singles, senior captain Katie Nevils crushed freshman Brenna Waldinger in straight sets, 6-0, 6-0.
“Katie will just run you all over the place with her ground strokes and drop shots,” said Stone. “Katie is such a competitor.”
CAPE ANN LEAGUE Player of the Year Sarah Mezini won her first singles match in straight sets, 6-1, 6-0, during the Pioneers’ 5-0 win over Bishop Fenwick in the Division 3 North quarterfinals June 3. (Dan Tomasello Photo)
Stone said he was pleased with the way all three singles players stepped up against the Crusaders.
“Our singles players were pretty much untouchable in this match,” said Stone. “They are a tough one, two, three combination. It’s one of the strongest combinations I have had in awhile. Anyone of those three could play number one singles at any of the schools we see during the course of the year.”
The first doubles tandem of senior captain Katie Nugent and sophomore Alexa Vittiglio dismantled junior Abby Graumann and freshman Anna Young in straight sets, 6-0, 6-1.
The second doubles duo of seniors Allison Carey and Laura Mucci defeated Bishop Fenwick’s tandem of senior Patricia Jabonillo and sophomore Niamh Walsh in two sets, 6-4, 6-3.
“The doubles teams are different than earlier in the year,” said Stone. “In that match, Laura ended up playing with Rachel Strout, and Alexa was on the bench. Alexa has improved tremendously over the last year, and has continued to take major steps forward. I have been trying Katie and Alexa at first doubles the last couple of weeks, and they seem to be in step with each other. Allison and Laura have similar personalities, and they have blended as well.”
Three Pioneers recognized
In addition to opening the Division 3 North state tournament with a decisive win, the Cape Ann League recognized three members of the Pioneers last week.
Mezini was named CAL Player of the Year and was named to the CAL All-League team. Stone noted Mezini is the first Pioneer to be named CAL Player of the Year three times. She also joins Olivia Skelley as the second Pioneer named to the CAL All-League team for four straight years.
“Sarah has had an outstanding season and career at Lynnfield High School,” said Stone. “To be recognized three consecutive years as the Player of the Year, and four consecutive All-League honors is a remarkable achievement, and possibly never be achieved again. Having Sarah at first singles for the past four years has been key to the success of our team.”
Nevils was named to the CAL All-League team as well.
“Katie has impacted our program both as a doubles player and singles player, achieving All-League honors at both positions over the past three seasons,” said Stone. “Her versatility has had a great impact on the success of our team.”
In addition to Mezini and Stone being recognized, the CAL coaches named Stone Coach of the Year.
“Being recognized by your peers as Coach of the Year is very satisfying,” said Stone. “But my primary goal is to make each player on our team understand the important role that they play, and the contributions that they make are key to the success of our team, and to understand what is necessary to do to improve as a player so we can improve as a team.”
