Published June 5, 2019

By BOB BURGESS and DAN TOMASELLO

LYNNFIELD — They didn’t want it to end this way.

The Pioneer girls’ tennis team lost their last two contests of the 2019 campaign, including a first round Division 3 North postseason tournament defeat Monday at the hands of the 12th seeded Pentucket Sachems. Playing on their home courts at the middle school, the fifth seeded Pioneers lost each of the three singles matches. The final was Pentucket 3, Lynnfield 2.

The Sachems’ Olivia Colby, a first singles Cape Ann League All- Star, defeated sophomore Megan Nevils 6-3, 6-2. Coach Craig Stone said Nevils played very well but Colby “had too many weapons.” Colby secured Pentucket’s first point of the team match.

The Pioneers countered with a win at second doubles, as freshman Anna Radulski and senior captain Grace Sokop emerged from a tight battle, 6-4, 6-4. 

JUNIOR Claire Yang gave a valiant effort during her third singles match, but came up short in two sets. The fifth seeded girls’ tennis team fell 3-2 to 12th seed Pentucket in the first round of the Division 3 North tournament on Monday. (Dan Tomasello File Photo)

Senior captain Alexa Vittiglio was at second singles for the Pioneers, squaring off against Maggie Aulson. When the two played last, Vittiglio — a league all-star this year — had the upper hand. Unfortunately for the home team, Aulson’s game this time around was error free. She won the match 6-3, 6-3. The team score at this point was Pentucket 2, Pioneers 1.

The key match turned out to be third singles, and it was a doozy. Lynnfield’s Claire Yang lost the first set 6-2, but fought had in the second to force a tiebreaker. However, the high school junior fell behind 5-0, and that proved to be too much to overcome.

The Pioneers first doubles team of sophomore Emma Gallucci and junior Gillian Skelley — who also happened to be repeating Cape Ann League All-Stars — were simply too powerful for their opponents, beating them 6-2, 6-1.

The Hall of Fame Lynnfield coach said, “Pentucket was a tough match up for us. We beat them during the season 4-1, but all matches were close. I knew this time around it would be another struggle, but I still had confidence that we had three-point potential this time around as well. I felt we had the edge in doubles, and was hoping we could get that elusive third point with a singles win.”

Stone continued, “Obviously, this is not the way we wanted to end our season, but I’m still excited about the improvement we made throughout the season, the contributions the seniors made throughout their careers, and the potential we have returning for next season!”

That potential is written all over the Pioneers’ final 2019 record of 13-4.

Falls to Austin Prep

The Pioneers concluded the regular season falling 4-1 to Austin Prep at the Woburn Racquet Club on May 28.

Stone noted that the match was played indoors due to rain, which required the match to have abbreviated short sets.

“It was not the best day for LHS tennis, as all players seemed a little out of sorts and lacked consistency,” said Stone. “I would have liked to end the season with a win, but in no way does it put a damper on a 13-3 season.”

Nevils lost her first singles match in two sets, 4-5(1), 0-4.

Vittiglio came up short in her second singles match in straight sets, 1-4, 0-4.

Sokop dropped her third singles match in straight sets, 0-4, 0-4.

The first doubles team featuring Skelley and Gallucci lost their match in two sets, 3-5, 3-5.

Juniors Celeste Joly and Elena Moisidis pulled out a two-set second doubles victory, prevailing 4-2, 4-1.

“Celeste and Elena prevented the shutout with a straight set win at second doubles,” said Stone.