Published in the April 18, 2018 edition

By DAN TOMASELLO

LYNNFIELD — The girls’ tennis team opened the 2018 season with a bang last week, as the Pioneers concluded the first week of the season with a 2-1 record and won the Cape Ann League Open Tournament.

The Pioneers began last week defeating Bishop Fenwick 4-1 on April 9.

Freshman Megan Nevils lost her first singles match in three sets. After prevailing 6-2 during the first set, Nevils lost the second set 3-6 and retired 0-2 during the third set.

“Nevils played her opponent even before yielding due to health concerns,” said Pioneers head coach Craig Stone.

CAPTAIN Alexa Vittiglio gave strong performances during three matches and the Cape Ann League Open last week. (Dan Tomasello File Photo)

Captain Alexa Vittiglio earned a hard fought three-set victory during second singles. She won the first set 6-4, lost the second set 4-6 and cruised to a 6-1 third set victory.

“Alexa is the only returning starter from last year,” said Stone. “She made the transition from doubles to singles, and won a two-hour, three-set match.”

Brazilian exchange student Bela Ferreira won her third singles match in two sets, 6-4, 6-1.

“Ferreira played very steady from the baseline to out rally her opponent,” said Stone.

The first doubles tandem of freshman Emma Gallucci and sophomore Gillian Skelley won their match in straight sets, 6-3, 7-6 (2).

“Gallucci and Skelley, a newly formed team, combined skill and strategy to get their first win as a team,” said Stone.

Sophomores Celeste Joly and Claire Yang won their second doubles match in two sets, 6-3, 6-4.

“Joly and Yang, both of whom had teamed together last year for one varsity match, were quite formidable this time out as well,” said Stone.

Stone was pleased with the Pioneers’ performance against Bishop Fenwick.

“It’s always nice to start the season with a win,” said Stone. “There has not been a lot of time to work on skills and strategies at this point with the weather being so unseasonable. I give the girls a lot of credit for hanging in there physically and mentally. We have a lot of work to do but this win, against a perennial tournament team, should add to our confidence level.”

Stung by Hornets

The Pioneers fell 5-0 to arch nemesis Manchester-Essex on April 11.

Nevils lost her first singles match in straight sets, 0-6, 0-6. Vittiglio dropped her second singles match in two sets, 0-6, 0-6. Ferreira lost a hard fought third singles match in two sets, 2-6, 5-7.

Gallucci and Skelley came up short against their first doubles opponents in straight sets, 1-6, 1-6.

In second doubles, senior captain Makayla Maffeo and Yang lost their match in two sets, 3-6, 2-6.

Stone noted the Hornets have “returned a stronger team than last year,” while the Pioneers are rebuilding this season. While Manchester-Essex won the Cape Ann League title last season, Stone noted the locals defeated the Hornets 3-2 in the Division 3 North semifinals.

“Manchester added two USTA (United States Tennis Association) ranked players to their line-up this year while graduating none, while Lynnfield’s lineup has six new starters this season,” said Stone. “We played much closer than the scores indicated, which is a credit to our young team who hung in there and battled every point. The fact that we still were able to compete with so many new faces in the lineup is very encouraging.”

Conquers Generals

The Pioneers bounced back and defeated Hamilton-Wenham 4-1 on April 13.

Nevils dropped her first singles match in two sets, 2-6, 1-6. Vittiglio secured a two-set victory during second singles, 6-4, 6-4. Ferreira earned a decisive win during third singles, 6-0, 6-2.

“Nevils faced her second USTA ranked player in a row but continues to battle, making her opponent work for every point,” said Stone. “Vittiglio battled for two hours while balancing her game with steady ground strokes and net play. Ferreira continues to be a ‘human backboard,’ winning multiple long rallies with her steady play.”

Gallucci and Skelley won their first doubles match in straight sets, 6-0, 6-0. Maffeo and Yang came out on top of their second doubles match in two sets, 6-1, 6-1.

“Skelley and Gallucci are coming together as a very formidable doubles team with compatible styles and personalities as well as all-around games,” said Stone. “Maffeo and Yang picked up their first win as a team as they led from start to finish.”

Stone said the Pioneers played well against the Generals.

“I was excited about having a full week of tennis without the weather impacting,” said Stone. “Our young team gets stronger each day on the courts. We have tremendous potential with good depth and balance, and have been improving with each day of practice and at each match.”

CAL Open

In addition to opening the 2018 season with a 2-1 record, the Pioneers won the Cape Ann League Open at Ipswich High School on April 14.

Lynnfield concluded the 10 team tournament with 17 points. Newburyport finished second with 13.5 points.

The Pioneers won both doubles tournaments during the CAL Open.

Gallucci and Skelley defeated Amesbury’s tandem 8-5 in the first round of the First Doubles Tournament. They defeated Pentucket’s first doubles team 8-4 in the semifinals. Gallucci and Skelley won the first doubles tournament after defeating North Reading’s tandem of Alexa Galuppo and Megan Landers 8-1.

Maffeo and Yang won the Second Doubles Tournament. They began the tournament defeating Amesbury’s tandem 8-3. Maffeo and Yang cruised past Triton’s duo 8-2 in the semifinals. They won the tournament after defeating Newburyport’s tandem 8-5.

Nevils began the First Singles Tournament defeating Triton’s Meri Fullford 3-2. She fell to the tournament’s eventual champion, Triton’s Emile DeKanter, 8-4 in the semifinals.

Vittiglio lost to Masconomet’s Julia Miller 7-8 in the first round of the Second Singles Tournament. In the consolation round, Vittiglio defeated Ipswich’s Nicole Sindoni 8-2. She defeated Hamilton-Wenham’s Nell Coues 8-2, which allowed her to win the Second Singles Consolation Tournament.

Ferreira began the Third Singles Tournament defeating Triton’s Julia Casaletto 8-2. She concluded the tournament falling to third singles champion Andrea Rennie 8-5 during the semifinals.

Stone praised the Pioneers’ performance in the CAL Open.

“Great win for our team,” said Stone. “Losing so many players from last year, and then come back and win the team tournament is quite an accomplishment. I give the players all the credit, many of whom worked on their games throughout the winter at the local clubs, knowing that they would be playing a more important role on our team this season.”