The Marblehead High girls tennis team (13-5) began the final week of the regular season with a 3-2 road win over Lynnfield on May 22.
After losing to visiting Hamilton-Wenham the next day, 5-0, the Marblehead girls started their preparation for the Division 2 state tournament.
They are the 20th-ranked team, and they are scheduled to face 13th-ranked Milton (11-5) in a Round of 32 match-up. As of May 27, the date and time were still to be determined.
“Lynnfield is always a strong opponent, but we matched up well against them this year,” said coach Tracy Ackerman. “There was good quality tennis from everybody, and this match will serve us well as we prepare for the upcoming state tournament. Third singles player Charly Cooper, in particular, showed grit and tenacity taking her match the distance.”
Paige Martuno got Lynnfield off to a quick start by beating Pauline Geissler in first singles, 6-1, 6-0. Lucia Levin and Aoife Bresnahan then took care of their Lynnfield counterparts, Vicki McCrann and Ella Hayman, in second doubles, 6-2, 7-6 (7-3).
In a back-and-forth battle, Lynnfield’s Genna Gioioso defeated Andrea Potvin, 7-5, 6-4 in second singles. But Cooper came out on top against Maddie Sieve in third singles, 6-2, 4-6, 6-3.
With the match now tied at two, Marblehead’s first doubles team of Courtney Yoder and Aviva Bornstein sealed the victory against Lily Alyes and Leticia Marafox, 6-4, 6-4.
The Magicians went right back to work the next day against the defending Division 4 state champions on Senior Day, but the Generals spoiled the festivities to walk away with a shutout win.
“All three Hamilton-Wenham singles players took no time to win their matches,” said Ackerman.
Geissler lost in first singles, 0-6, 1-6, before Potvin (0-6, 0-6) and Cooper (2-6, 1-6) dropped their matches to the mighty Generals.
Yoder and Bornstein then lost in first doubles, 3-6, 1-6. Bresnahan and Levin experienced the same results in second doubles, 3-6, 4-6.
