Updates post publication:
North Reading defeats Ipswich 4-1 (May 19)
North Reading falls to Malden 3-2 (May 22)
Published May 18, 2023
By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI
NORTH READING — The North Reading High boys’ tennis team lost, 5-0, at home to mighty Lynnfield on Monday afternoon as the Pioneers swept the season series.
The Hornets fell to 7-6 overall and 3-6 in the Cape Ann League with the defeat.
“They are so deep and should go very far in the Division 4 state tournament,” said Hornets head coach Mark Bisognano, as the Pioneers are undefeated in the league.
At first singles, Roman Ton lost, ,6-1, 6-3, Second-singles player, Parker Lee, lost 6-0, 6-2.
Third-singles player, Samir Murthy, also lost in straight sets as he fell, 6-1, 6-2.
In doubles action, the team of Jonathan Park and Aiden Patel lost in straight sets, 6-0, 6-2 while the second team of Ricky Ho and Raffi Toby lost, 6-1, 6-0.
At Rockport on May 12, the Hornets were nipped, 3-2, by the Vikings.
“That was our fifth match in five days and our team ran into a wall,” admitted Bisognano.
Ton won, 6-0, 6-2, at first singles while Lee lost, 6-3, 6-4, at number two. Murthy was shutout, 6-0, 6-0, at third singles.
Park and Patel lost, 6-4, 6-3, while Toby and Alex DeWolfe won, 6-2, 7-5, at second doubles.
On May 11, the team traveled to Peabody and beat Bishop Fenwick, 4-1, in a non-league match.. The Hornets were able to complete the season sweep over the Crusaders as they won, 4-1, in the first match-up on May 3 at home.
“We were able to give some of our guys rest,” pointed out Bisognano.
Ton lost, 6-3, 7-5 but Lee won, 6-0, 6-1. Ho played third singles and he won with matching 6-1 scores.
Toby and DeWolfe also won with matching 6-1 scores at first doubles while Isaac Liang recorded a, 6-0, 6-0, shutout win.
On May 10, the Hornets edged Newburyport, 3-2, at home to split the season series with the Clippers.
“We are evenly matched teams,” said Bisognano. “Our second doubles team really came through.”
Toby and DeWolfe won that second doubles match, 7-5, 6-2.
Ton won, 6-0, 6-1, while Lee won, 6-1, 6-3. Murthy lost, 6-0, 6-0 at third singles.
Patel and Park fell, 6-4, 6-1, at first doubles.
The Hornets will host Amesbury on May 18 at 4 p.m. They then welcome Ipswich the next day at 4:15 p.m.
On May 22, North Reading goes to Malden with that match starting at 4:15 p.m.
Lowell Catholic then comes to town on May 23 with that match starting at 4 p.m.
The Hornets then wrap up the regular season on May 24 as they visit Manchester-Essex with that match starting at 4:15 p.m.
When the MIAA power rankings came out at the start of this week, the Hornets were ranked 27th in Division 3. The top 32 ranked schools at the end of the regular season, automatically qualify for the state tournament.