After press time:
North Reading falls to Newburyport 5-0 (May 15)

 

Published May 16, 2024

By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI

IPSWICH — The North Reading High girls’ tennis team was edged, 3-2, at Ipswich on Monday afternoon. It was the Hornets’ third consecutive loss as they dipped to 7-5 overall and 5-4 in the Cape Ann League.

At first singles, junior Althea Bradley won, 6-2, 6-1 while freshman Matilda Ton won, 6-3, 6-4, at second singles.

Senior captain Vanessa Wright, at third singles, lost, 6-2, 6-1.

In doubles action, the first team of senior captain, Bhagyavi Bandara and junior Addison Stetson lost 6-1, 6-4.

The second doubles team of junior Aniya Taneja and sophomore Shenaya Verma lost a heart-breaker in three sets. They won the first set 7-6 (9-7 in the tiebreaker). They then lost the second one, 7-6 (7-2 in the tiebreaker). In the final set, they fell, 6-3.

“That was a tough one to lose,” admitted Hornets head coach Matt Tiberii. “They were leading 3-0 in that final set.”

At home against Lynnfield on May 10, the Hornets fell 4-1.

“They are solid every year,” said Tiberii about the Pioneers. “Their depth was the difference.”

Bradley fell, 6-4, 6-1, while Ton lost, 6-1, 6-3. Wright had the team’s lone victory winning in three sets, 3-6, 6-2, 6-4.

“That was a good win for her,” pointed out Tiberii.

Bandara and Stetson lost in three sets, 6-1, 4-6, 6-0, while Taneja and Verma fell in straight sets, 6-1, 6-4.

In a non-league match on May 7, the Hornets lost at home to Methuen 3-2.

Bradley won, 6-1, 6-4, while Ton won, 7-5, 6-2. Wright fell by matching, 6-1 scores at third singles.

In doubles play, Bandara and Juliet Wasilewski fell, 6-1, 6-0, while Taneja and Verma lost, 6-2, 6-4.

“For our power ranking it helps to lose this match close,” pointed out Tiberii about the bright side to this defeat since the Rangers are a Division 1 team while the Hornets are in Division 3.

North Reading will return to action on May 17 when they visit Bishop Fenwick in a non-league match up in Peabody.

The Hornets then return to CAL play on May 20 as they host Hamilton-Wenham. The next day, they host Stoneham in another non-league match. All three of these matches will start at 4 p.m.

The Stoneham match is the Hornets’ Senior Day as Bandara and Wright will be honored before the match.

With their loss on Monday, the Hornets were seeded 12th in the MIAA power rankings for Division 3. The top 32 teams at the end of the regular season automatically qualify for the state tournament.