Published May 30, 2019
NORTH READING — The NRHS girls’ tennis team clinched a state tournament berth with their 3-2 victory over the Ipswich Tigers in North Reading’s final Cape Ann League match of the season. The Hornets finished up with a 5-5 record in the tough CAL.
North Reading sat the four senior starters in the match. Sophomore Ava Czarnota won easily at first singles 6-0, 6-2. Freshman Gina Campagna won a tight first set 7-5 but cruised in the second 6-2 for the straight set victory at second singles. Elizabeth Grant moved up from doubles and coasted at third singles 6-1, 6-2.
At first doubles juniors Lucie Wilson and Alexis Jones made their season debut together and unfortunately fell 6-0, 6-0. Senior Maddy Rutherford and freshman Lexi Licciardi lost at second doubles 6-1, 6-2.
SYDNEY DAVIS makes a nice return shot against Austin Prep. Davis and teammate Elizabeth Grant won a three-set thriller against A.P. and are off to the state tournament. (John Friberg Photo)
Crush Malden 4-1
The Hornets picked up their sixth win in seven matches with a straight forward 4-1 victory over the Malden Golden Tornadoes on May 21.
Ava Czarnota and Elizabeth Grant both won without dropping a game at first and third singles respectively 6-0, 6-0. At second singles,Gina Campagna coasted 6-1, 6-1. Juniors Emily Slavin and Olivia Lowe played a great match together at second doubles and won 6-4, 7-5. At first doubles, senior Christina Lasdin and junior Julia Smith suffered the only loss 6-3, 6-2.
Winning streak snapped by Austin Prep
On May 22, the Hornets hosted Austin Prep for a match under the lights and unfortunately the Cougars snapped North Reading’s five game winning streak with a 3-2 win.
Senior captain Sydney Davis and Elizabeth Grant won the match of the day at first doubles. They played their best match together all season and downed their opponents in a three set marathon 7-5, 1-6, 7-5. In their return to lineup at second doubles, senior captain Jillian Coveney and senior Haley MacIntyre won quickly 6-1, 6-3.
Ava Czarnota, senior captain Kylie Scher and Gina Campagna all suffered straight set defeats in their singles matches.
Sweep Lowell Catholic 5-0
On Friday, the Hornets returned to their winning ways with an easy 5-0 sweep of Lowell Catholic.
At second singles, Kylie Scher returned to win column with a terrific 6-0, 6-0 victory. Sydney Davis and Elizabeth Grant rolled at first doubles 6-2, 6-0. At first singles, Ava Czarnota beat her good friend and offseason training partner Libby Keefe 6-3, 6-3.
Once NRHS got the three points for the win the coaches agreed to play eight game pro sets to finish the match. Gina Campagna and the duo Jillian Coveney and Haley MacIntyre won by identical 8-1 scores.
