After press time:
Lynnfield defeats Beverly 5-0 (April 10)
Lynnfield defeats Ipswich 4-1 (April 9)
CAPTAINS, from left, Ella Hayman, Paige Martino and Lily Alves will be leading the girls’ tennis team this spring. (Dan Tomasello Photo)
By DAN TOMASELLO
LYNNFIELD — The girls’ tennis team is back on the court, and is looking to go on another deep state tournament run this spring.
Lynnfield finished the 2024 season with a 15-7 record. The Pioneers qualified for the Division 4 state tournament, and advanced to the state finals. Unfortunately, the Pioneers fell 5-0 to three-time state champion Hamilton-Wenham.
With a strong nucleus returning to the court, head coach Craig Stone has high expectations for the Pioneers this spring. Lynnfield has qualified for the state tournament for 41 consecutive years.
“We will be very competitive,” said Stone. “We graduated two starters with Maddie Sieve at third singles and Leticia Marafon at first doubles. We are returning senior captain Paige Martino, senior captain Ella Hayman and captain Lily Alves, who are all playing at their same spots. We will need to fill in, but we have returning starters in junior Vicky McCrann and sophomore Emma Wagon, who both played second doubles last year. We also have spot-starters Fiona Asad, Nandana Nishanth, Parminder Saini and Victoria Clancy who can help fill the void.”
Martino, who also served as a captain last season, will be playing first singles once again.
“Paige was last year’s Cape Ann League Player of the Year,” said Stone. “She has played first singles for the past four years. She has all of the shots and great court presence.”
Hayman will be playing first doubles once again.
“Ella has risen through the ranks,” said Stone. “She was only a spot-starter during her freshman year, played second doubles as a sophomore and played first doubles during her junior year. She is another coach on the court, knows the game and knows how to win. She is a steady shotmaker and doubles strategist, and she could help out at singles as well.”
Alves, who is a junior, will be playing second singles for the second consecutive season.
“Lily has had a meteoric rise on the court,” said Stone. “She played second doubles and first doubles as a freshman, and played second singles as a sophomore last year. She has been playing competitive tennis for only three years. Lily combines depth, direction and pace to control her matches.”
Stone said McCrann has been “a two-year starter at doubles.”
“Vicky looks to be combining with Ella currently at first doubles, but she will also play some third singles,” said Stone.
Stone said Wagon is back on the court this spring after being “a full-time starter at second doubles last season.” He also said senior Parminder Saini, junior Fiona Asad, junior Nandana Nishanth and junior Victoria Clancy “have varsity experience that will help.”
Freshmen Kami Khiat, Kathleen Brown and Christine Choi are promising new additions this season.
“Kami has already experienced match play at singles and doubles this season,” said Stone. “Kathleen and Christine have been anchoring second doubles at this time.”
Stone said the Pioneers’ “depth and experience” will be Lynnfield’s biggest strength this season.
“We have 27 players on the team this year, and well over half of which could step in and win varsity matches,” said Stone. “Unfortunately, only seven can play at a time and there is no substitution during play. Consequently, with the depth of our team, our starting lineup could change from week to week.”
While the Pioneers have a strong core back on the court, Stone said each member of the Pioneers’ have to focus on “taking their game to the next level.”
“Whether it is becoming steadier from the baseline, hitting that approach shot or more aggressive net play, everyone must extend themselves beyond their comfort zone and become comfortable at that next level of play,” said Stone.
Conquers Knights
The Pioneers opened the season by defeating North Andover 5-0 on April 2.
Martino defeated her first singles counterpart in straight sets, 6-0, 6-1.
“Paige began the season like she ended the last one with punishing groundstrokes with depth and direction,” said Stone.
Alves won her second singles match in two sets, 6-1, 6-2.
“Lily continued her steady play, mixing topspin and slice to control the pace of the match,” said Stone.
Khiat earned her first varsity win after defeating her third singles opponent in two sets, 6-3, 6-4.
“Kami maintained her composure in her varsity debut in the longest match of the day that featured many long rallies for a straight-set win,” said Stone.
Hayman and McCrann dismantled their first doubles opponents in two sets, 6-4, 6-1.
“Ella and Vicky were reunited at first doubles after they played second doubles together in 2023,” said Stone. “Ella and Vicky started a little slow, but quickly gained momentum halfway through the first set to dominate play.”
Brown and Choi earned their first varsity victories after defeating their second doubles counterparts in two sets, 6-0, 6-3.
“Kathleen and Christine led all the way in their varsity debut by combining groundstrokes and volleys while dominating net play,” said Stone.
Stone commended the Pioneers’ performance on the court against the Scarlet Knights.
“It always nice to start the season with a win, especially at home,” said Stone. “We have a little more depth on our team this season than in previous years, with multiple players being able to step into the varsity lineup. It is a lineup that may see many changes during the season.”
Defeats Swampscott
The Pioneers kept rolling and defeated Swampscott 4-1 on April 4.
Martino won a thrilling first singles match in two sets, 7-5, 6-4, that lasted two hours.
Alves defeated her second singles counterpart in two sets, 6-1, 7-5.
McCrann got the start at third singles, but lost the match 6-7, 4-6.
Hayman and Khiat earned a two-set victory at first doubles, prevailing 6-1, 6-4.
Brown and Choi won their second doubles match in two sets, 6-4, 6-1.
“It was a good win over a good team,” said Stone. “All of the matches were competitive and everyone was able to come away learning a little bit more about themselves and what they need to work on to improve.”