Sports

Raiders Tennis Maintains Perfect Season

Girls' and boys' tennis teams tune up for State tourney under the lights

The Wellesley High tennis teams remained unbeaten Thursday night with home wins over Newton North.

The girls' (12-0) and boys' (15-0, 11-0) squads both won 5-0.

It was the girls' team's first game against the visiting Tigers (10-4) since the south sectional semi-final last year, which Wellesley won 3-2 in a third-set tiebreak by Lucy Brennan, playing third singles.

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Wellesley got out to an early lead on Thursday with sophomore Abby Henry defeating Newton North's Emily Kelly (6-3, 6-0) at first singles and junior Evelyn Garrity and sophomore Katie Cecere winning second doubles in straight sets (6-0, 6-3).

However, with the Raiders up 2-0, the match got closer when Caroline Taylor and Jane Marchetti got pushed to third sets at second and third singles, respectively, and the first doubles match had just gotten underway. Luckily for the Raiders, all four remaining players were seniors, including Brennan at first doubles, who had been in tight spots before.

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"They've all played a lot of varsity matches in their careers," Wellesley girls' coach Alan Brazier said. "[Taylor and Marchetti] both played long matches, and they both played really well, especially when it mattered in the third set."

Taylor defeated Newton North sophomore Emily Chan (1-6, 6-1, 6-1). Marchetti won her match 6-1, 3-6, 6-1.

Brennan would also be victorious (6-3, 6-3) with partner Haley Blatz, remaining undefeated on the year.

The boys' team, which had beaten Newton North (10-6, 10-4) 5-0 earlier this year, rolled, winning all of its matches in straight sets.

At second singles, Raider junior Chris Cua didn't lose a game, beating Parker Swiston 6-0, 6-0. Iyra Levin and Michael Pratt also had convincing wins at first and third singles, respectively.

The Raiders fielded an all-senior doubles lineup. David Mykrantz and Jeff Baldwin beat Shelton Cochran and Kris Labouiteh at first doubles (6-1, 6-4), while Jack Fiskio and Kenny Sydness took second doubles 6-1, 6-3.

Wellesley coach Mike Sabin said the night match, which usually draws more spectators, helps his team prepare for the state tournament.

"It prepares them for a similar atmosphere," he said. "They've got a lot of eyes on them."

The teams return to action against Norwood on Monday with the boys' team at home and the girls' away.

 


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