The Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School (MVRHS) girls varsity tennis team, which finished the 2015 season at 22-0, including playoff action, and won the Division 3 state championship under the leadership of coaches Nina Bramhall and Liz Roberts, has been hard at work all winter at the Vineyard Youth Tennis (VYT) facility in Oak Bluffs.
Last year, Ms. Bramhall was named Division 3 girls tennis coach of the year by the Boston Globe. On March 2, Ms. Bramhall retired from VYT after seven years to focus on the MVRHS team.
Ms. Bramhall believes the winter training was important. “Every little bit counts in keeping the rust off,” she said. “Some of the girls have also been competing in USTA tournaments all winter to keep them match-ready, so we should start the season with many in-form players from the get-go.”
The girls lost five seniors last year, four of whom were starters last season including Samantha Potter at first singles, Charlotte Potter and Josie Iadicicco at first doubles, and Avery Hazell at second doubles. The team also lost Charlotte Hammond, but she was not on the starting lineup. Ms. Bramhall said the returning starters are Kat Roberts, Lizzie Williamson, Amadine Muniz, and Madison McBride.
“Last year’s championship win will be a tough act to follow but it’s always good to have something to aspire to, and I know many of these girls will want to prove they can do it again,” Ms. Bramhall told The Times.
One change this winter is that instead of dividing up court time with the boys, the girls and boys were allowed to practice all five days a week at the Vineyard Youth Tennis Center facility, which provides tennis instruction to all Island youngsters free of charge.
Although they are not directly affiliated with the school program, VYT director Scott Smith and VYT coach Mike Hallisky have played an important role in the development of most of the high school team’s players. Both men are keen observers of tennis talent and provided The Times with their assessments as the season kicks off.
Mr. Smith told The Times that he has high expectations for Kelly Klaren and Victoria Scott, two freshmen additions to the girls varsity roster this spring. Both girls have played at VYT since they were very young.
“They are the more dedicated out of all the kids, even more than the kids who played last year,” said Mr. Smith. “They are going to contribute to the team this year big time.”
Mr. Hallisky said that Kelly and Victoria already know all the returning varsity players and that they have all been playing together for a long time. “They’re going to mesh well as a team.”
Kat Roberts and Lizzie Williamson, now sophomores, are once again expected to be powerhouses this season. There are four big players and three singles spots.
“Kat, Lizzie, Victoria, and Kelly have been playing together and against each other for years, so it will be interesting to see how they do when competing for a position on the team,” Ms. Bramhall said. “We have two weeks to get ready, get the line-up set, and polish up our game faces for the 2016 season.”
The girls began regular practice Monday. Their first match is at home against Nauset Regional High School on Saturday, April 2, at 11 am.
“We lost some girls last year, but really the girls are going to be stronger this year,” said Mr. Hallisky.
Asked about the transition from winter to spring competition, Mr. Smith said, “Once they begin the season it’s their [the high school coaches] team. We don’t interfere unless they ask us.”
Mr. Smith thinks the girls will make it to the state championship this season, but, he said, “If not this year, we have three more accomplished players coming up the following year, and then it will be a stacked team with singles and doubles that are good across the board.”