From Ipswich Girls’ Tennis Coach Joe Maher:
#4 Hamilton-Wenham Girls tennis team upset the #1 seed Lynnfield Pioneers today 3-2 at St. John’s Prep in Danvers. The Generals took control of the match early with the first doubles tandem on Olivia Romans and Evelyn Esdaile winning their first set 6-1, followed by number two singles Emily McIntosh winning her first set 6-1 and Number one singles Naomi Provost winning her first set 6-4.
However the Pioneers won first sets at both second doubles and third singles.
Provost stepped on the gas in the second set getting the Generals on the board 1-0. Emily McIntosh was in a battle in the second set and down 4-5, she battled back to win 7-5 to put the Generals up 2-0. Despite playing an amazing match second doubles tandem on Gabriella Jewett and Sofie Greene lost in two sets 6-7 (4), 3-6, putting the match at 2-1.
Charlotte Ireland battled in the third singles match and brought the match to a tiebreaker. In a back in forth battle, Ireland lost the match on an unlucky let cord winner that just trickled over the net for the Pioneers. This tied the match up at 2-2. Lynnfield’s first doubles duo of Ella Hayman and Vicky McCrann made some great adjustments in the second set and evened the match at a set a piece. With the match tied 2-2 and first doubles each with a set to their name, It was a back in forth battle with both teams having opportunities to close it out (H-W at 5-4, Lynnfield at 6-5). In the end the match was decided by a third set tiebreaker with the Generals prevailing 7-5 in the tiebreaker to send the Generals back to the state title game.
“I can’t say enough about this group of girls…all of them…not just the starters but the whole team. They stick together and support each other and work hard to make each other better. I am so proud of the way we competed today. Lynnfield is a talented and well coaches team and we had to play at a new level to beat them today. I can’t say enough positive things about the Lynnfield team. They play the game right. Their girls are great players, but even better people. It was really a fun match to watch between two great teams.” – Coach Joe Maher
“It’s always huge when Naomi gets us going by putting us on the scoreboard. Paige Martino is a tough competitor and Naomi really had dial it in to get the win. Emily McIntosh played her best match of her high school career in beating a very talented player in CAL All-Star Lily Alves. I give a lot of credit to Naomi, Charlotte, and assistant coach Jack Leary preparing her for this match. Her focus and determination was awesome, Emily had the upset of the day.”
“Olivia and Evelyn really gutted their match out. They were definitely feeling the nerves after dropping the second set, but I was so impressed by co-captain Olivia Romans leadership. She did a great job communicating on the court and pumping Evelyn up. And that’s all Evelyn needed…she rallied and hit some amazing drives, volleys and scampered all around the baseline getting shots when most of the fans thought the point was over.” -Joe Maher
But in the end it was co-captain Olivia Romans who hit two vicious backhands to end two points, followed by an aggressive backhand volley at net that won it for the Generals.
“This was by far the most exciting MIAA tournament match I have been a part of in my 25 years+ of coaching. Win or lost, I was truly proud of how we came together today. The exciting part about this team is every match a different group of girls has stepped up. We have won seven 3-2 matches this year and it seems like every match someone different steps up. -Joe Maher
Final Scores:
Naomi Provost (HW) def Paige Martino 6-4, 6-2
Emily McIntosh (HW) def Lily Alves 6-1, 7-5
Kami Khiat (Lynn) def Charlotte Ireland 6-4, 7-6 (5)
Olivia Romans and Evelyn Esdaile (HW) def Vicky McCrann and Ella Hayman 6-1, 5-7, 7-6 (5)
Kathleen Brown/Christine Choi (Lynn) def Gabriella Jewett and Sofie Greene 7-6 (4), 6-3
Joe Maher
