ELIZABETH GRANT is one of three senior captains leading the Hornets in 2022. (Courtesy Photo)

By DAN NUNN

NORTH READING — The NRHS girls’ tennis team has 16 players this season with five freshmen, three sophomores, four juniors and four seniors.

Seniors Gina Campagna, Elizabeth Grant and Lexi Licciardi will serve as captains alongside fellow senior starter Soultana Tsaparlis. Core juniors Alyssa Bradley and Chloe Florez are back along with fellow juniors Katherine Hoadley and Mary Bonganzi. Freshman Althea Bradley and sophomore Vanessa Wright will be talented additions to the starting lineup

The three starting singles players are Campagna, Grant and Althea Bradley. The doubles teams of Alyssa Bradley and Florez and Licciardi and Tsaparlis will round out the starting lineup.

“We are looking forward to a great season with a great group of girls,” said head coach Matt Tiberii. “With 20 matches on our schedule, we will be one of the busiest teams in the Cape Ann League. I really like this team going forward. With most of the team coming back and losing only one starter I feel they are ready to make that leap. Should be really fun to watch.”

Crush Amesbury 5-0

The Hornets opened the season with an easy home victory over the Amesbury Indians on April 7.

Grant played at first singles and won in straight sets 6-4, 6-0. Althea Bradley and Wright made their varsity debuts at second and third singles. Bradley won easily 6-0, 6-3 and Wright dominated 6-0, 6-1.

Junior duo Alyssa Bradley and Florez cruised at first doubles 6-0, 6-3 and at second doubles, the senior tandem of Licciardi and Tsaparlis won 6-1,6-1.

SOULTANA TSAPARLIS has teamed up with Lexi Licciardi at second doubles this season. The senior duo won their matches against Amesbury and Pentucket to help the Hornets move to 2-1 in CAL play. (Courtesy Photo)

Sting Pentucket 4-1

The Hornets picked up their first CAL victory of the season on April 11 over Pentucket.

At second doubles, Tsaparlis and Licciardi didn’t drop a game and destroyed their opponents 6-0, 6-0. Wright overpowered her foe at third singles 6-1, 6-0. Alyssa Bradley and Florez teamed up for a straight set sweep at first doubles 6-1, 6-2. At second singles, Althea Bradley won a no contest 0-0.

Fall to talented H-W squad 

On April 13, a tough team from Hamilton-Wenham came to NRHS and defeated the Hornets 4-1.

“This was a good test to start the season and will get us ready for the rest of the year” said Tiberii.

Grant lost 6-1, 6-1 at first singles. Althea Bradley dropped a tough three setter at second singles. She lost the first set 6-1, won the second set 6-4 but unfortunately lost the third set 6-0 to another freshman Naomi Provost.

Senior captain Gina Campagna made her 2022 debut and won easily at third singles 6-3, 6-1.

Alyssa Bradley and Florez lost 6-1, 6-2 at first doubles to a strong Generals duo.

Tsaparlis and Licciardi lost the first set 6-0 and fought back in the second set but lost 6-4.

The Hornets beat Lowell Catholic 5-0 on April 14 to improve to 3-1.

They got April Vacation week to prepare for their next match, a Monday, April 25 road tilt against Saugus at 4:30 p.m.