Post publication update:
North Reading earns #11 seed in MIAA Div. 3 State Tournament and will face #22 Dighton-Rehoboth in their first game.
For more details and to view the bracket, click here.
Published May 22, 2025
Netmen compete well during stretch of eight matches in nine days
By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI
NORTH READING — On Tuesday afternoon, the North Reading High boys’ tennis team edged visiting Melrose, 3-2, on Senior Day. With the non-league win, the Hornets ended the regular season at 13-5.
This was the team’s eighth match in the past nine days due to some makeups as they only had last Saturday off.
Senior co-captain, Parker Lee, lost, 6-1, 6-4, at first singles, while second-singles player, Kellen Tiberii, won in three sets. He lost the first set, 2-6, and then won the next two 6-3, 7-5.
Raffi Toby played at third singles and won in straight sets, 6-2, 6-0.
In doubles action, the first duo of John Pastore and Nolan Pierce lost, 6-3, 7-6 (7-2 in the tiebreaker). The second team of Connor Abruzzese and Sameer Murthy, however, won, 6-2, 7-5.
“This was a good tune-up for us for the states,” said Hornets head coach Mark Bisognano. “We were challenged but Kellen came through to close the match out for us.”
Lee, Murthy and Toby, the Hornets three seniors, were honored after the match.
The day before, the Hornets beat Hamilton-Wenham, 4-1, at home. With that victory, North Reading ended up at 8-5 in the Cape Ann League as they came in third place in the CAL Kinney Division.
Lee lost with matching 6-2 scores while Tiberii won, 7-6 (8-6 in the tiebreaker), 2-6, 11-9 in the ten-game pro set.
Toby won, 6-3, 6-3, at third singles.
Pastore and Pierce won with matching 6-4 scores while Murthy and Abruzzese won 6-3, 6-2.
“That is the first time we have beaten them in years,” said Bisognano. “They lost a lot of good seniors from last year’s team.”
On Sunday, the Hornets won over host Mystic Valley, 3-2, in Malden to sweep the season series over the Eagles, who are in their first year in the league.
Lee was shut out, 6-0, 6-0, while Tiberii won, 6-4, 7-5, at second singles. Toby fell, 6-3, 6-0, at third singles.
Pastore and Pierce won, 6-4, 6-3, while Murthy and Abruzzese won 6-4, 1-6, 6-1, to clinch the victory.
“That was a great third set,” stated Bisognano. “They knew that the match was on their shoulders and they came through.”
On May 16, the Hornets blanked Malden, 5-0, in a non-league match. Lee won, 6-1, 6-0, while Tiberii won, 6-2, 6-7 (8-6 in the tiebreaker, 10-0, in the 10-game third pro set).
Toby won, 6-1, 6-0.
Pastore and Pierce won 6-2, 6-3, while Murthy and Abruzzese won, 6-2, 6-4.
On May 15, the Hornets were edged by Lynnfield, 3-2, at home as the Pioneers swept the season series.
“They are not as deep as they were last year but they are still a very good team,” said Bisognano.
Lee lost, 6-4, 6-4, while Tiberii won, 6-4, 6-1. Toby fell, 7-5, 6-3.
Pastore and Pierce won 7-6 (7-4 in the tiebreaker), 6-3, but Murthy and Abruzzese fell, 6-4, 6-1.
On May 14, the Hornets were shutout, 5-0, at Newburyport. The Clippers won the CAL Kinney Division title this spring.
“They are very deep,” said Bisognano. “Besides Manchester-Essex, they are the best team we have seen.”
Lee lost, 6-2, 1-6, 10-7. Tiberii fell, 7-6 (7-2 in the tiebreaker), 6-0. Toby also lost in three sets, 7-5, 2-6, and 10-7.
Pastore and Pierce fell, 6-3, 7-5, while Murthy and Abruzzese lost, 6-3, 6-3.
North Reading entered this week seeded 9th in the MIAA Division 3 power rankings. The top 32 teams at the end of the regular season automatically qualify for the tournament regardless of their record.
The seeding for the states are slated to come out on May 23 and the Hornets will open up playoff action some time next week as they will get to open at home.