Girls’ tennis team extends winning streak to 5

After a rocky start to the 2012 season, the CHS girls’ tennis team has gained momentum in the past two weeks and improved its record to 6-3. A far cry from its record of 1-3 in mid April, the team has rallied with a winning streak of five matches in a row — the latest wins coming against Attleboro and Franklin.

Last Monday’s match against the Attleboro Blue Bombardiers yielded a 3-2 victory for the Bulldogs. In singles play, sophomore Erica Nannery (6-0, 6-0) and older sister Micaela Nannery (6-2, 6-2) brought home wins. Losing hard-fought matches were junior Jude Altabbaa (6-2, 7-6) and the doubles team of juniors Kristen Burns and Aimee Pina (6-1, 3-6, 2-6).

The highlight of the day came from the doubles pairing of juniors Pujitha Ganni and Eleni Papadopoulos. Winning 6-1, 3-6, 6-2, the duo put in a “tremendous effort and came through in the clutch to win the decisive match of the day,” explained head coach Bill Kates.

On Wednesday, the Bulldogs crushed the Franklin Panthers with a 5-0 win. Once again, the Nannery sisters put forth their best play with decisive wins, Erica at 6-1, 6-0 and Micaela with a 6-2, 6-0 victory. Papadopoulos, with a return to singles, showed her skill and adaptability with a 6-2, 6-4 win. And doubles teams brought in the fourth and fifth points of the match. Burns and Pina volleyed to success with a 6-2, 6-2 win; while sophomore Pranathi Ganni and Altabbaa won in straight sets, 6-3, 6-2.

Coach Kates’ positive spirit holds strong for his squad, who will compete this week against a few teams who gave the girls’ that rocky beginning.

“I’m optimistic for a big week, one in which we can split with some of these teams — like Sharon and Foxboro,” he said.

And the Bulldogs have a packed schedule on tap, with matches Monday through Thursday against Sharon, Mansfield, Foxboro and Boston Latin. Kates is hopeful that “playing so often will get us ready for the individual state tournament next weekend.”

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Posted by Holly Erickson on May 9 2012. Filed under High School, Sports. Both comments and pings are currently closed.