The number one seed Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School (MVRHS) girls varsity tennis powerhouse took to the courts at home Monday afternoon against ninth seed Carver High School (10-7 record) and won 5-0 in the MIAA division 3 south quarterfinals.
The Vineyarders advance to the division 3 south semifinals and play Cohasset High School this Wednesday at home. The game begins at 3pm. Cohasset narrowly beat Monomoy High School 3-2 in the other quarterfinal division contest Monday afternoon. Cohasset has a 13-4 record and Monomoy has a 16-3 record.
Outmatched
The Carver Crusaders beat eighth seed Sacred Heart High School 4-1 during first round play. The Vineyarders finished their season 16-0 and had a pass in the first round of the tournament.
The Vineyarders simply outmatched the Crusaders and first, second, and third singles plowed quickly to victory. Both Victoria Scott at second singles and Lizzie Williamson at third singles made quick work of getting double bagels in barely 30 minutes of play – each with a 6-0, 6-0 victory. Kat Roberts at third singles took only about 15 minutes longer to win 6-1, 6-0.
“My serve was really on today,” Lizzie told The Times after her victory. “I’m working a lot on that in my practices. We’ve been doing a lot of practice attacking the net, so I really tried to get my angles.”
“I always think that there’s room for improvement,” Victoria told The Times, “but it was a good match. It was about patience and keeping it steady.”
“It was good. I played pretty well I think and consistently,” Kat Roberts told The Times after her win.
Both doubles teams started out slow, but were able to get down to business and pull out two wins. First doubles Camilla Prata and Amadine Muniz won 6-4, 6-1 and second doubles Alison Daigle and Nuun Eksiri won 7-5, 6-2.
The team has been plagued with some injuries, and number one singles player, and freshman, Kelly Klaren, injured her ankle over the weekend and did not play in Monday’s quarterfinal match. She hopes to be back on court Wednesday.
Due to Kelly’s absence, Coaches Nina Bramhall and Liz Roberts moved their number one doubles team of Victoria and Lizzie up to number two and number three singles, respectively. Nuun Eksiri usually plays number two doubles with Amadine, but because of the team movement Monday Nuun played with Alison. Camilla Prata, at first doubles Monday, normally plays third singles.
“We overpowered them,” Ms. Bramhall told The Times post match. “It’s going to be a lot harder Wednesday.”
Last year it was the Cohasset match that got contentious. That team was led by standout number one singles player Emma Davis, who has since graduated.
Charlotte Potter, member of the 2015 MVRHS girls varsity state championship team, was on hand for the Monday matches. “I wouldn’t miss it!” Charlotte told The Times.
If the Vineyarders are victorious in the semifinals, they will advance to the regional finals. Next is the state semifinal, followed by the state final.
“I never like to say I’m not worried,” Ms. Bramhall told The Times. “I always take one thing at a time.”
“It’s been a terrific season,” said Ms. Bramhall. “I think it’s a combination of we are very strong and we haven’t played that many very strong teams. It’s just about taking every match one match at a time and not looking too far ahead, and it’s worked.”
