By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI
NORTH READING — North Reading High girls’ tennis coach Matt Tiberii was named the Cape Ann League Kinney Division Coach of the Year this season for the first time in his seven years at the helm.
Under his leadership, the Hornets reached the MIAA Division 3 Round of 16 before falling to league power Newburyport, 5-0, back on June 4.
The Hornets beat Wareham, 3-2, in the opening round.
Overall, the Hornets went 10-10 and they were 6-7 in the CAL.
“It was an honor to be voted Coach of the Year by the other league coaches,” said Tiberii. “I am one of the veteran coaches in the league now that I have been here for seven years.”
First singles player, Althea Bradley, went 12-8 while freshman, Matilda Ton, went 11-6 at second singles.
Ton started the year at third singles and went 2-1.
Senior captain, Vanessa Wright, went 5-8 at third singles after going 2-1 at second singles at the start of the year as she was 7-9 overall.
The first doubles team of Bhagy Bandara and Addison Stetson went 6-12 while the second pairing of Aniya Taneja and Shenaya Verma went 9-7.
Although no Hornets made the Cape Ann League All-Star team this year, Tiberii explained how tough it is to make.
“Only 10 players made the team,” explained Tiberii.” You have to have two losses or less just to be nominated.”
Tiberii also pointed out the talent of the CAL.
“From top to bottom, I think that we have the second best league in the state behind the Dual County League,” he said. “There are some like the Middlesex League that have some really good teams at the top but the bottom of the league is not that good. All 10 of the teams in our league made states.”
