Canton High tennis teams end season on a high note

While there will be no tournament matches for either CHS tennis team this season, both Bulldog squads managed to end the season on a positive note with back-to-back victories over neighboring Stoughton last week.

Senior Charlie Malloy (Mike Barucci photo)

The boys team, led by promising freshman Minh Duong and the senior doubles duo of Charlie Malloy and Aidas Jakubenas, earned two straight close wins (3-2) to finish at 6-10 overall, while the girls team rode its singles players to a 7-10 finish with wins of 5-0 and 4-1.

“I could not have asked for a better week and way to end the season,” noted girls head coach Joel Chamberlain.

Chamberlain said all three of his singles players — freshmen Natalie Keppler and Rachel Kupferman and sophomore Sarah Hernandez — were “dominant” in both matches against the Black Knights as they combined to win 67 of 72 games and all 12 sets.

The lady Bulldogs also played several exciting doubles matches, with both Friday matches going to a third set tiebreak. The first doubles duo of Caitlin Matthews and Stelina Michaelidis fell just short 4-6, 7-6 (8-6), 10-8, while the second doubles team of Nyah Claiborne and Rose Hazam held on to win 6-3, 3-6, 10-8. In Monday’s home match, Matthews and Michaelidis earned a hard-fought 6-1, 7-6 (8-6) win while Jena Moyle and Anjali Mandal cruised in straight sets, 6-1, 6-4.

As for the boys team, Duong continued his ascension at third singles, winning both matches in straight sets while drawing raves from head coach Leo Nelson.

“From the start of the season to the end of the season, he has shown a huge growth in aggressiveness on the court and maturity in listening to advice from coaching and his captains,” Nelson said.

Nelson also had praise for his top doubles duo of Malloy and Jakubenas, who he said showed “exactly why Canton tennis has been successful over the years.” The two seniors were a steadying presence after the loss of first singles player Jake Wolicki to injury, and they finished their career on a high note with consecutive match wins.

Sophomore Justin Luk also had a strong final week, scoring wins with two different partners at second singles — Ethan Nguyen on Monday and Tyler Duffy in Friday’s finale.

Luk and Duffy’s match went to a third-set tiebreak and Nelson said it was a thrilling battle to watch on an “extremely hot day.”

“Justin had a huge advantage by throwing his opponent off with his left-hand serve and Tyler with his aggressiveness at the net,” said Nelson, “and they were able to lock in the win for Canton boys tennis.”

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Posted by Jay Turner on Jun 2 2018. Filed under High School, Sports. Both comments and pings are currently closed.