The cold temperatures played a small factor in the season opener for the Bishop Brady and Pembroke boys’ tennis teams in their opening matches on Wednesday.
Thomas MacMillan, Jackson Bouley, Sam Olson, Ethan Jalbert and Wes McCarty all won singles matches for the Giants, leading Brady to a 6-3 victory. McMillan was the “strongest hitter” for Brady, according to Pembroke Coach Chris Sporcic, with hard shots earning him the most winners of anyone on the afternoon.
“McMillan and Olson were really on today,” Sporcic said. “They just overpowered us. Olson couldn’t miss and was very strong mentally.”
Pembroke’s Rupesh Gurung won the Spartans’ only singles match. Sporcic credited Gurung’s “better shot-making and variety of shots” as keys to why he won.
“We have to work on some fundamentals and serving,” Sporcic said. “Our volleys in doubles need to improve, although with so many (weather-related) missed practices, that will come with time. We just haven’t had a lot of opportunities to practice doubles.”
Pembroke will face Coe-Brown on Friday, while Bishop Brady plays host to Plymouth on the same day.
Key players: Coe-Brown – Jared Carlson (8-1 singles win), Tom Mellor (8-5 singles win), Brian Gordon (8-0 singles win), Nate Griffiths (8-0 singles win), Tyler Holman (8-2 singles win), Nick Sanderson (8-2 singles win), Don MacCallum/Griffiths (8-1 win), Max Fontaine/Hunter Olofson (8-1 win); West – Mason Lobello/Todd Holman (8-2 win)
Highlights/key moments: The Bears swept the singles matches and took two out of three in doubles in their season opener.
Coach’s quote: “Great opening-day win for the team. The boys played very well.” – Coe Brown’s Sam Struthers
Records: Coe Brown 1-0; West 0-1
Key players: Bow – Brayden Binder (9-7 singles win), Evan Alfano (8-2 singles win), Jack Olson (8-6 singles win), Aditya Shah (8-1 singles win) Owen Molind (8-3 singles win), Shah/Mullen (8-6 win)
Highlights/key moments: Bow captured five of the six singles matches, but lost two of three in doubles.
Records: Bow 1-0; PCA 0-1
Key players: Bishop Brady – Sydney Herrington (8-0 at No. 1), Ravalika Damerla (8-1 at No. 2), Iantha Beane (8-4 at No. 3), Yolanda Wang (8-1 at No. 4), Taylor Hood (8-0 at No. 5), Ellen Mowsowitz (8-6 at No. 6), Herrington/Damerla (8-1 at No. 1), Beane/Wang (8-2 at No. 2), Hood/Komma (8-3 at No. 3); Pembroke – Nora Sansoucie (8-6 loss at No. 3)
Highlights/key moments: Pembroke’s Sansoucie played her first career match in the No. 3 spot, losing a close one, 8-6.
Records: Bishop Brady 1-0; Pembroke 0-1
Coe-Brown 9,
Manchester West 0
Key players: Coe-Brown – Jessica Miles (8-2), Holly Roman (8-5), Danielle Belcher (8-1), Claire Hammond (9-7), Arianna Gundersen (8-6), Mary Lee (8-0), Miles/Belcher (8-2), Roman/Hammond (8-1), Lee/Megan Wimsatt (8-1)
Highlights/key moments: The Bears swept all singles and doubles matches to win their season opener.
Records: Coe Brown 1-0; West 0-1