THE NRHS girls’ tennis seniors were honored before their 4-1 win over Malden on Monday. Pictured from left to right is Katherine Hoadley, Chloe Florez, Alyssa Bradley, Mary Bonzagni and coach Matt Tiberii. (Courtesy Photo)

 

By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI

NORTH READING — It was a successful Senior Day on Monday afternoon for the North Reading High girls’ tennis team as they beat guest Malden, 4-1, in a non-league match.

With that victory, the Hornets improved to 9-8 overall.

“It was a great day to honor our four seniors,” stated Hornets head coach Matt Tiberii. “It was special because they lost their freshman year due to covid.”

Althea Bradley won, 6-1, 6-0, at first singles while her sister, Alyssa, won 6-0, 6-3, at second singles. Third-singles player Vanessa Wright won 6-1, 6-2.

In doubles action, the first team of Chloe Florez and Katherine Hoadley won 6-1, 6-2. The second team of Mary Bonzagni and Isabelle Kim lost in three sets. They won the first set, 7-6 (7-4 in the tiebreaker) but lost the second one 6-3. They did a ten-game pro set for the final one and lost 10-8.

“It was nice to split with them,” said Tiberii, as the Golden Tornadoes won the first meeting, 4-1, back on May 1.

On May 19, the Hornets beat host Ipswich, 4-1, in their lone meeting of the season. With that victory, the Hornets improved to 6-4 in the Cape Ann League.

Althea Bradley shut out her opponent, 6-0, 6-0, while Alyssa won, 6-3, 6-1. Wright also won in straight sets, 6-0, 6-3.

Florez and Hoadley won in three sets. They won the first one, 7-6 (7-5 in the tiebreaker), but lost by that same result in set two. Set three was a ten-game pro set and they won 10-6.

Bonzagni and Bhagyavi Bandara lost at second doubles, also in three sets, They won the first one, 6-4, and lost set two, 7-5. The third set was a ten-game pro set and they lost 11-9.

 

ALTHEA BRADLEY and Alyssa Bradley serve in sync during a recent match in Ipswich. The Hornets beat the Tigers 4-1 and are 9-9 going into their final two matches this week, first in Amesbury on Wednesday after press time then on Thursday at home against Lynnfield at 4 p.m. (Courtesy Photo)

 

“That was a good league win for us,” said Tiberii. “Ipswich had a pretty good team who is going to make the state tournament.”

The day before the Ipswich win, the Hornets lost a non-league match, 5-0, at home to Andover.

“They are the best team we have faced,” said Tiberii, as the Golden Warriors are a Division 1 team. “I was hoping that this match would help out our power rankings.”

Althea Bradley lost, 6-3, 6-0, while Alyssa Bradley fell, 6-3, 6-1. Wright was shutout, 6-0, 6-0, at number three.

Bandara and Aniya Teneja lost, 6-0, 6-2, while Kim and Addison Stetson were shutout, 6-0, 6-0.

On May 17, the Hornets shut out guest Triton 5-0. North Reading was able to complete the season sweep over the Vikings this spring with the win.

“They are in the rebuilding stage,” said Tiberii, about the Vikings.

Althea Bradley won, with matching 6-1 scores, while her sister won, 6-3, 6-0. Wright won, 6-3, 6-1, at third singles.

Florez and Hoadley won, 6-4, 6-1, while Bonzagni and Bandara won, 6-2, 6-0.

The Hornets will wrap up the regular season on May 25 as they host Lynnfield at 4 p.m. North Reading is trying to get a split of the season series against the Pioneers who won, 3-2, on May 15. The Hornets entered this week ranked 13th in the MIAA Division 3 power rankings. The top 32 teams at the end of the regular season automatically qualify for the state tournament that will start next week.

The brackets will be released on Saturday at www.miaa.net.