Published April 11, 2019
NORTH READING — After a successful first season under head coach Matt Tiberii (’94) in which the NRHS girls’ tennis team went 11-6, finished second in the CAL Kinney and made the Div. 3 North Tournament as an 8 seed, the Hornets are looking for even more in 2019.
The Hornets will lean on sophomore Ava Czarnota at first singles this year.
“Ava is our best player and will lead our team this year,” said Tiberii.
North Reading’s senior captains are Jillian Coveney, Kylie Scher and Sydney Davis.
Scher will start the season at second singles. During NR’s season-opening 4-1 win over Saugus on April 3, Scher won her match 6-1, 6-0.
Coveney will play first doubles with senior Haley MacIntyre. The duo beat their Saugus opponents 6-1, 6-3.
JILLLIAN COVENEY is one of three senior captains for the NRHS girls’ tennis team this year. (File Photo)
Davis is tabbed to play second doubles with talented new freshman Elizabeth Grant. Davis missed the first match so Grant and classmate Alexia Licciardi won their first varsity match, 6-0, 6-0.
Competing at third singles this year is freshman Gina Campagna who got her first varsity win against Saugus 6-0, 6-1.
The Hornets have similar goals as last year, except this time around they’re looking to leap to the top of the standings.
“The Cape Ann League is very competitive as always, but our goal is to win the CAL and the make the state tournament,” said Tiberii.
To do that, North Reading would have to beat some very talented teams such as defending Div. 3 state champion Manchester-Essex and a Lynnfield team who is always in the hunt for a north championship.
That doesn’t strike much fear into the team or Tiberii, who certainly remembers his own battles with the Pioneers during his playing days.
“I always think we can beat Lynnfield,” said Tiberii.
North Reading also added four matches this season so they can play an even 20. New to the schedule this year are Swampscott, Lowell Catholic, Bedford and Matignon.
The Hornets’ match in Malden on Monday was rescheduled to Thursday at 3:30 p.m. The CAL Open will take place this Saturday, 8:30 a.m. at Ipswich High School.
