The Vineyard tennis teams opened the season in a decisive way Friday, with both the girls and boys teams sweeping their opponents from Lowell Catholic High School 5-0.
“[The Vineyarders] play tennis on the Island, and we love the wind,” said girls team head coach Bill Rigali. “The wind is our friend. That’s what we focus on and tell the girls to use it to their advantage and not get frustrated.”
Junior captain Cali Gigilo started things off at first singles defeating Kiley Ciccolo 6–2, 6–0. Senior captain Karinne Nivala defeated Emily Perry 6-0, 6-0 at second singles, and freshman Ellie Pennington defeated Liz Bada 6–1, 6 – 3.
The Vineyarders also showed excellent form at doubles, not giving up a single game to Lowell Catholic. At first doubles, senior captain Tessa Hammond and junior Andrea Morse defeated Kat Kelly and Olivia Porto 6-0, 6-0, and at second doubles junior Evelyn Brewer and junior Alana Nevin swept their opponents Sam Ryder and Julia Vasconcelis 6-0, 6-0.
“First match, you’re just getting things up and running and making sure the girls feel comfortable going on the court, and we have some players playing for the first time: Ellie Pennington and Alana Nevin. So, they might be a little nervous, but they are all doing well,” Coach Rigali said.
The boys team picked up where the girls team left off, hosting another clean sweep. Not one singles player lost a game. At first singles, junior Jacob Riis beat Jardo El Shama 6-0, 6-0; at second singles junior Clyde Smith defeated Aidan Rodgers 6-0, 6-0; and freshman Zak Potter defeated Keegan Winsor 6-0, 6-0.
“[The team] gets along really well,” said first-year, head coach Jonathan Bates. “Most of them play year-round at the Vineyard Family Tennis Center. They have good sportsmanship out there, and I was pleased with that, and so I am looking forward to a very successful year.”
The doubles teams kept the momentum going with senior captain Ben Belisle and freshman Caleb Dubin defeating Adam DiCiaccio and Adrian Nagrant at first doubles, 6–0, 6-0, and freshmen Kurt Kleeman and Kyle Levy defeating Andrew VanOpstal and Jacob Thellen at second doubles, 6-1, 6-1.
The Vineyard boys tennis plays an away game on Monday, April 4 against Dover-Sherborn High School, while the Vineyard girls team will have a home game on Friday, April 8 against Newton High School.
“[Dover-Sherborn] are totally strong.,” Coach Bates said. “They beat the Vineyard last year in the state tournaments, so that will be a good challenge.”
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