The rainy, cold weather forced the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School (MVRHS) girls tennis team to play its MIAA State Division 3 South Sectional quarterfinal match indoors Tuesday afternoon, at Airport Fitness.
As they had in the first round against Fontbonne last Friday, the top-seeded Vineyarders overpowered their opponent, beating eighth-seeded Archbishop Williams of Braintree 5-0.
MV improved to 18-1, while the Bishops finished the season at 13-4.
With only two courts available, the girls had to take turns playing, with first and second singles leading off.
Second singles Kelly Klaren was off the courts first, beating eighth grader Brooke Alessi, 6-1, 6-0. Kat Roberts played Brooke’s twin sister, Taylor Alessi, at second singles and won, 6-1, 6-1.
“It was good; she moved around the court really well, and overall she’s a good player,” Kelly said after her match.
“She was a good player, I just think I was more consistent, but she’s probably one of the best players I’ve played this year,” Kat said.
At third singles, Hannah Rabasca beat Daisy Zhang, 6-2, 6-2.
“Part of me thought she was a first singles player, because she was really skilled and she could keep a rally,” said Hannah. “Then I got carried away and would hit it out. I would get too careful, and then I started double-faulting and just ruined my game. But then I just said, ‘It’s OK, it doesn’t matter where it goes, just get it in,’ and once I started getting more games, I started getting more confident with myself.”
The first doubles pair of Lizzie Williamson and Victoria Scott easily won their match against Eleni Kroumpouzos and Sallyrose Savage, both freshman, 6-0, 6-0.
“I’m excited that the team is doing so well,” Victoria said.
Due to the 4-0 overall team score and Archbishop Williams needing to catch their ferry off-Island, the second doubles game was “called” midway through the second set. The Pogue sisters, Molly and Paige, were ahead of Crystal Zeng and Nicky Vo 6-0, 3-0.
“We didn’t finish, but it was fun,” said Molly Pogue. “I got to work on some shots like drop shots, which was fun.”
Despite the loss, Archbishop Williams Coach Kathryn Bois was pleased with how far her girls had come.
“Last year was our first year in 10 years to even make the tournament,” Ms. Bois told The Times. “It’s nice to see a young team progressing so quickly; it gives me hope for the future.”
The varsity girls will play again Thursday, June 8, in the Division 3 South semifinals at home, versus Monomoy, which came into the tournament 13-3, and is seeded fourth.
