Netwomen are tourney bound once again

By DAN TOMASELLO

Published May 22, 2019

LYNNFIELD — The girls’ tennis team has qualified for the state tournament for the 37th consecutive year.

The Pioneers (11-1) punched its ticket to the Division 3 North state tournament after defeating Hamilton-Wenham 4-1 at Ipswich Country Club on May 13.

Sophomore Megan Nevils lost her first singles match in two sets, 1-6, 3-6.

Senior captain Alexa Vittiglio won her second singles match in three sets. Vittiglio narrowly won the first set 7-6(5) and lost the second set 4-6. Vittiglio won the third set 10-8.

Sophomore Emma Gallucci won her third singles match in straight sets, 6-1, 6-0.

Senior captain Grace Sokop and junior Gillian Skelley secured a two-set victory during first doubles, prevailing 6-0, 6-1.

Junior Elena Moisidis and freshman Anna Radulski won their second doubles match in two sets, 6-3, 6-0.

Head coach Craig Stone said it was great the Pioneers were able to qualify for the state tournament for the 37th straight year. He also noted the Pioneers defeated Hamilton-Wenham earlier this season.

“Team rematches during the season are always interesting and the outcome can be rarely predictable,” said Stone. “Combine this with playing on the clay surface, which we do not play on all season, can lead to interesting results. Fortunately, we were able to play well and stay focused. We were able to come away with our 10th win of the season and qualify for the state tournament for the 37th year in a row.”

Clips Newburyport

The Pioneers kept rolling and defeated Newburyport 4-1 on May 15.

Nevils won her first singles match in three sets. After losing the first set 4-6, Nevils bounced back and won the second set 6-1 and prevailed 6-3 during the third set.

“Megan clinched the team win after losing her first set,” said Stone. “She stormed back to win the second. She was up 5-0 in the third when Newburyport mounted a challenge, but it was too little, too late.”

Vittiglio pulled out a three-set victory during second singles. After losing the first set 1-6, Vittiglio regrouped and won the second set 6-3. She won a 10-5 super tiebreaker during the third set.

Junior Claire Yang lost her third singles match in two sets, 4-6, 2-6.

Gallucci and Skelley earned a two-set victory during first doubles, prevailing 6-1, 7-5.

Sokop and Radulski won their second doubles match in two sets, 7-5, 6-2.

Stone noted the Pioneers’ match against the Clippers was “a battle of two undefeated Cape Ann League teams.”

Falls to Manchester

The Pioneers concluded last week falling 3-2 to defending Division 3 state champion Manchester-Essex on May 16.

Nevils dropped her first singles match in two sets, 3-6, 2-6.

Vittiglio earned a hard-fought victory during second singles, prevailing 6-4, 6-2.

“Alexa continued her winning ways, improving to 12-0 this season,” said Stone. “She was hammering top spin ground strokes for depth, then creating cross court angles to win points.”

Yang lost her third singles in three sets. She lost the first set 2-6, won the second set 6-4 and lost the third set 2-6.

Gallucci and Skelley lost their first doubles match in two sets, 1-6, 2-6.

Sokop and Radulski won their second doubles match in straight sets, 6-2, 6-3.

“Grace and Anna came up with their second big win in as many days,” said Stone. “This time they did not have to play catch up, as they led throughout the first set. They stuttered a little to start the second, but quickly regained form and won the second set.”

Stone noted the Pioneers had a chance to upset Manchester-Essex after earning early victories at second doubles and second singles.

“We had our chances,” said Stone. “Great tennis at all five spots. It would have been nice to knock off the defending league, sectional and state champs, but I guess we will just have to wait for the tournament now.”