Hopkinton upsets the boys at home
The Hopkinton High boys tennis team (17-2, 12th seed) came to Marblehead on June 3 to take on the fifth-seeded Magicians (13-5) in a Division 2 Round of 16 matchup. Unfortunately, the MetroWest visitors ended up leaving town with an upset 3-2 victory.
“There was plenty of excellent tennis up and down our lineup, with the wins coming from first and second singles players,” said veteran MHS coach Elisabeth Foukal.
Senior captain Mika Garber defeated Joe Krattenmaker in first singles, 6-0, 6-3.
“Mika has played No. 1 singles since his freshman year, and he went out with a bang winning his last match of his high school career,” said Foukal.
Junior captain Etan Farfel took care of Rishit Shekhar in second singles, 6-3, 6-3.
“Etan was the better player with more variety and power in his game,” said Foukal.
Sophomore T.J. Kelly lost to Hopkinton junior Ilian Glace in third singles, 6-4, 6-0.
“T.J. had a terrific first set, and gave it a good fight,” said Foukal.
The first doubles team of junior captain Jayden Janock and his classmate Leo Winocour lost a
competitive encounter to Kais Guessab and Chavdar Kamenorav, 6-3, 6-4.
“Trailing 5-3 in the second set and with Hopkinton serving for the match, while being up 40-love, our boys came from behind to win that game to force another game,” said Foukal afterwards. “They showed true grit, which has been the (epitome) of this team all season long.”
Junior Anthony Vizy and freshman Ty Cooper lost to two Hopkinton seniors — Sonoraj Sambasivam and Anay Pashori — 6-3, 6-0 in second doubles.
“They really played quality doubles against a seasoned team,” said an impressed Foukal.
“I’m so proud of how our boys competed, while also playing with excellent sportsmanship,” added Foukal. “At one point, the ball bounced on a dead spot and our first doubles team offered to replay the point. This is what tennis is all about.”
Second seed Longmeadow eliminates the girls
The Marblehead High girls tennis team (13-7) lost a Division 2 Round of 16 matchup against host Longmeadow (20-0), the second seed, on June 4, 4-1 after edging Melrose in the Round of 32, 3-2.
“Longmeadow is a super strong team,” said Marblehead coach Tracy Ackerman. “There’s a reason why they are the No. 2 seed, but our girls finished the season with their heads held high. They gave it all they had out there in this match.
“This year’s group of seniors — Maddie Conlon, Aviva Bornstein, Aoife Bresnahan, Lucia Levin, Amelia Singer and Hannah Atkinson — was pretty special. They will all be missed,” added the veteran Marblehead coach.
Third singles player Sami Dosch, who made the Northeastern Conference all-star team, accounted for Marblehead’s lone point with a straight sets win, 7-6, 6-3.
The first doubles team of Bresnahan and Levin were chosen to the All-Conference team, along with the second doubles tandem of Reese Friedman and Lani Gilmore. Ackerman shared NEC Co-coach of the Year honors with Beverly’s Craig Bern, as voted on by their fellow conference coaches.
