League champs return to court next week
Published in the April 1, 2016 edition
JACK MAYS is one of the players returning to the MHS boys’ tennis team, who returns after their best season in decades. (Donna Larsson photo)
By JENNIFER GENTILE
MELROSE — Coming off their best season in half a century, the Melrose Red Raider boys’ tennis team has every reason to expect continued success in 2016.
Last year Melrose went deep into playoffs after a 14-4 season, earning a spot in the D2 North Semifinal before falling to an always-tough Winchester. This year they return with a solid singles team, including senior captain Julian Nyland, who is wrapping up a prolific athletic career at Melrose High. Nyland is expected to continue his #1 singles duty and shares captain duty this season with junior teammates Jack Mays and Sam Stallings.
Melrose can expect to see some wins in their single play, thanks to Nyland, Mays and sophomore Sean Donovan. Melrose found an ace in the hole with their doubles teams last year and this season, they will count on Sam Stallings, Caleb Zimmerman, Sean Prendergast and a variety of other Raiders to fill in the doubles teams.
According to coach Matt Williams, the forecast looks good. “We’re coming off a big season and we would be fortunate to repeat it. We just got outside after the rain this week and it’s so far, so good. We have some solid returning talent and are looking good out there.”
Melrose’s schedule starts on a challenging note, against Arlington and Belmont, two teams they snatched victory from in 2015. “That should give us a general idea where we measure up,” says Williams. “We’re excited to get going.”
Melrose will open their season on April 6 with back-to-back home matches against Belmont and Arlington. They host the Marauders Wednesday, April 6 at 3:30 at the Lyons Court on Tremont Street.
