Both CHS tennis teams pick up W’s

By Holly Erickson

The CHS girls’ tennis team picked up two wins this past week and improved its record to 3-1. Playing host to Franklin and Milford, the squad volleyed to a 4-1 victory on Tuesday and a 3-2 win the following day.

Junior Amberly Diep (Mike Barucci photo)

Tuesday’s match was a closer one than the score reveals. While junior Erika Nannery cruised to a 6-0, 6-0 win, the same could not be said for her fellow teammates. Senior Eleni Papadopoulos lost her first set 4-6, but she rebounded to take the next two 6-4, 6-3. Junior Amberly Diep, who has replaced Jude Altabbaa for the time being, also dropped her first set 2-6, but she rallied to win the second and third sets 6-0, 6-4.

The first doubles team of seniors Aimee Pina and Kristen Burns had a similar result as they came back to claim the Bulldogs’ fourth win of the day (3-6, 6-3, 6-3).

On Wednesday against Milford, Nannery again dominated and won in straight sets 6-0, 6-0; however, Papadopoulos battled painful blisters on her hands and was defeated 4-6, 4-6. The two doubles teams also split their matches, with Pina and Burns winning 6-3, 6-0 and sisters Pujitha and Pranathi Ganni falling 4-6, 4-6.

It then all came down to Diep, who was only in her second varsity match at third singles. With the pressure on and lots of spectators intently watching, Diep walked away with the decisive match of the day (6-4, 4-6, 6-3). Kates recognized her as the “star of the match, the one who deserves so much credit.”

During vacation week, the Bulldogs were scheduled to travel to Oliver Ames for a noon match on Wednesday, April 17.

Boys’ tennis edges Milford for 1^st win

After suffering its third straight loss of the season, the CHS boys’ tennis team rebounded for a win on the road last Wednesday. Despite a crushing loss to Franklin just two days prior, the boys found their rhythm against Milford, leaving them with a 1-3 record.

Hosting Franklin on Monday, April 8, the squad fell hard to the visiting Panthers. Junior Sam Riemer played a strong match against a great player but lost 6-3, 6-4. Senior Andrew Sulkala brought the match to three sets, but lost in a tiebreaker (4-6, 6-4, 10-8).

Senior John Garofalo battled back but lost in straight sets (6-2, 6-4), as did the first doubles team of seniors Ben Grosser and Andrew Burkowsky (6-2, 6-4). And freshmen Dan Biggers and Nathan Maltz “played extremely well,” according to coach Leo Nelson, but lost in two straight (6-2, 6-4).

After this frustrating loss, the boys regrouped against Milford on Wednesday, April 10, winning the match 3-2. Riemer won in straight sets (6-2, 6-1), while Sulkala prevailed in three (6-4, 4-6, 6-3). The third and decisive win of the day was earned by Garofalo, who won his first varsity match. After Monday’s loss, Garofalo was intent on improving his backhand swing — and it showed against his Milford opponent in a 6-4, 7-6 (11-9) tiebreak win.

Nelson and his squad now look ahead to the rest of the season and hope to add to their win total. Next up, the team was scheduled to host Oliver Ames on Wednesday, April 17.

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