Published in the April 7, 2016 edition
By DAN NUNN
NORTH READING — With four starters returning from last season’s team that finished 16–2, won the Cape Ann League Kinney Division and was a Division 3 North State Sectional Finalist, the 2016 girls’ varsity tennis team is primed for another superb campaign.
North Reading’s entire singles group returns from last season. Junior captain Marissa Galuppo will play at first singles for the third consecutive season. Head Coach Matt Finn commented on Galuppo: “She has been our strongest player since her freshman year. I think she can have a great season this year as a junior, and can compete to be one of the best players in the CAL.” Junior captain Aly Budny will compete at second singles and sophomore Tia Campagna will anchor at third singles.
Coach Finn also expects returning sophomore Meghan Griffin to challenge for a singles spots this year, because “she has trained hard and improved a lot since her freshman season.” The doubles lineup is still in flux but junior captain Emily Zhang, sophomores Meghan Landers and Alexa Galuppo among others will be in the mix.
The Hornets will need this talent to navigate through their season schedule. Finn said, “We scheduled a tougher season to test ourselves this year, but in the CAL, our eyes are always on Lynnfield.” He went on to say, “Lynnfield is the only CAL team that we don’t have a win over yet since I started coaching, and I hope this is the year that ends. They always have a strong team, but I’m very happy with the lineup we can put out.”
With so much talent and experience Coach Finn has high expectations not only for this season but the next as well. “Our first goal is always to make the state tournament. After that, we will set our sights on another CAL title. I also think we can make another deep state tournament run and with no seniors leaving after this year, I think next year our team will compete for a state title as well.”
