THE NO. 13 NRHS girls’ tennis team made it to the Div. 3 state quarterfinals during a very successful state tourney run that included exciting 3-2 victories over No. 20 Boston Latin and No. 4 Belchertown. Pictured from left to right are seniors Mary Bonzagni, Katherine Hoadley, Chloe Florez and Alyssa Bradley. (NRHS Girls’ Tennis Photo)
By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI
NORTH READING — North Reading High girls’ tennis head coach Matt Tiberii knew his squad faced an uphill challenge when they had to play host Wayland in the MIAA Division 3 Round of 8 match on June 8 as the Dual County League that the Warriors compete in is the best league in the state.
The 5th-seeded Warriors proved Tiberii correct as they shut out the Hornets, 5-0.
With the loss, the 13th-seeded Hornets ended the year at 12-11 while the Warriors improved to 7-10. Wayland then lost to another DCL team, Weston, 4-1, in the state semifinals on Monday to end the year at 7-11.
“I was very impressed with them,” stated Tiberii. “They are powerful from top-to-bottom.”
All five matches only went two sets.
Althea Bradley lost to Olivia Todd, 6-0, 6-3, at first singles while her sister, Alyssa, was defeated 6-0, 6-1 at second singles by Kyra Spooner.
Third singles player, Vanessa Wright, lost, 6-1, 6-0, to Selena Liu.
In doubles action, the first team of Chloe Florez and Katherine Hoadley fell to Morgan Warner and Ava Knourenko, 6-3, 7-5.
The second team of Mary Bonzagni and Bhagi Bandara were shut out by Annelise Martin and Arya Samaratuaga, 6-0, 6-0.
Tiberii pointed out that his team was the highest seed in all four divisions to reach the state quarterfinals.
“I am very proud of our team for accomplishing that,” he said.