Girls tennis notches 10th win; singles shine at MIAAs

Freshman Kiara Cerruti has emerged as a key contributor in doubles matches. (Mike Barucci photo)

While it’s too late to pass either of the Hockomock’s twin powerhouses in the race for the Davenport Division crown, the CHS girls tennis team continues to solidify its position as the “best of the rest,” improving to 10-0 against schools not named Foxboro or Sharon with another convincing win on Tuesday versus Milford.

In dispatching the Hawks 5-0 on the road, Canton has now beaten all other Hockomock League programs, including all six teams in the Kelley-Rex (large school) Division. They are a combined 44-6 in individual matches across their 10 wins with six total shutouts, and they have already locked up a spot in the upcoming MIAA team tournament.

Against Milford, the lady Bulldogs won all five matches in straight sets, highlighted by 6-0, 6-0 victories for Rachel Kupferman at first singles, Natalie Keppler at second singles, and Lily Hazam and Kiara Cerruti at second doubles. Sarah Hernandez also made quick work of her opponent at third singles (6-2, 6-1), as did the first doubles duo of Nyah Claiborne and Rose Hazam (6-3, 6-1).

Keppler currently leads the team with 11 individual wins followed by Kupferman with 10 and Hernandez with nine.

Canton’s top two also saw action at the recently held MIAA individual tournament and both did outstanding against top competition, according to head coach Joel Chamberlain.

Kupferman, who was one of the seeded participants, received a first-round bye and went on to defeat Quincy’s No. 1 player and Sharon’s No. 2 before a family commitment forced her to withdraw from the quarterfinal round. Keppler, meanwhile, almost advanced to the quarterfinals herself but was ousted in three sets (6-4, 1-6, 6-0) by Melissa Lindsell, a highly ranked player out of Duxbury. Prior to that match, Keppler had defeated Rockland’s No. 1 player 6-3, 6-1 and then won a marathon match against Wellesley’s previously unbeaten No. 2 player, 6-7 (5-7), 6-4, 6-3.

Chamberlain said Keppler’s round two battle was one of the most back-and-forth matches he has ever seen. “Natalie won in three sets and the stamina involved was unbelievable,” he said.

Chamberlain said both Canton players made the program proud with their play. “It was awesome seeing them both play so well,” he said.

As for the doubles teams, while none competed at the MIAA individuals, they too have been incredibly productive with a core group of five or six players contributing throughout the season, including Stelina Michaelidis, Lily and Rose Hazam, Cerruti, and Claiborne.

In last week’s 4-1 loss to Sharon, it was Claiborne and Rose Hazam who had the lone win for Canton, winning 6-4, 6-0 at second doubles.

The Eagles took the four other matches in straight sets, although Keppler gave her opponent a fierce battle in a 6-4, 6-4 loss while Kupferman played a competitive match against Sharon’s top singles player Nupur Shukla.

Counting the most recent loss to the Eagles, Canton is now a combined 0-4 against the Davenport’s top two of Sharon and Foxboro, who entered this week with records of 16-0 and 16-1, respectively. (Foxboro’s lone defeat came against Sharon back on April 29.)

However, the Bulldogs have had arguably the most success of any team against the two league powers, taking two of five matches in their last meeting with the Warriors and one win apiece in each of their meetings with the Eagles.

The girls will now look to finish the regular season on a high note with remaining matches against Milford today and at North Attleboro next Wednesday, May 29. Then it’s on to the postseason with seeding likely to be announced sometime next week.

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