The Bow girls’ tennis team (11-0) had already beaten Conant 10 days earlier, but the Falcons played even better on Monday in Jaffrey, making a statement with an 8-1 win over Conant (9-2) and strengthening Bow’s hold on the top seed in Division III with just three days remaining in the regular season.
“The girls came ready to play today,” Bow head coach Jonsey Rainville said. “Some of the matches were really close.”
Close matches are nothing new for the Falcons. Lara Chern trailed 5-1 at No. 1 singles in Bow’s first outing against the Orioles, but Chern cruised to an 8-3 victory at No. 2 singles on Monday.
Chern and Molind had to come from behind in the No. 1 doubles match, before ultimately claiming a 9-7 victory.
Returning to the No. 1 singles slot, Gwen Molind won a decisive 8-1 match.
At No. 3, freshman Olivia Parzick came back from a 5-1 deficit to tie the match, but eventually lost to another standout freshman from Conant in a tight decision, 8-6.
The rest of the singles matches weren’t as close, as the Falcons swept the bottom of the ladder with Emma Conley (8-3), Miah Munro (8-4) and Lauren Goyette (8-4) securing wins at Nos. 4-6 respectively.
Conley bounced back at No. 4 after forfeiting her first match against Conant due to an ankle injury and Munro responded well following an 8-3 loss in her match against the Orioles 10 days ago.
“The was a big confidence boost for Miah today,” Rainville said.
Parzick and Conley won 8-2 at No. 2 doubles and Munro and Goyette won 8-6 at No. 3, but Rainville and the Falcons aren’t resting on their laurels.
“We still have a lot of work to do with our doubles,” Rainville said. “Our No. 1 and No. 3 doubles matches were a little closer than I would’ve liked.”
Rainville and her squad might have high expectations, but with good reason. The Falcons are the defending champions, won titles in 2013 and 2011, and have appeared in five of the last seven D-III finals.
With two victories of third-place Conant and a pair of wins over fifth-place Pelham (9-3), the undefeated Falcons look poised to return to that spot again, although Rainville there is still a long road ahead.
“We have not seen any of the North Country teams yet (including second-place Littleton with a 10-2 record) and our wins over Pelham were close (6-3 and 5-4). Pelham is a really deep team” said Rainville, “but (the Bow girls) are an amazing bunch of kids.”
Concord 8, Londonderry 1
Key players: Concord – Abigail Pope (8-4 win at No. 1), Emma Pope (8-4 win at No. 2), Emma Pedersen (8-6 win at No. 3), Joanna Dustin (8-1 win at No. 4), Kristin Womack (8-4 win at No. 5)
Highlights/key moments: The Tide swept the doubles thanks to wins from the Pope sisters (8-2 at No. 1) and Pedersen and Dustin (8-6 at No. 2). Brooke Jackson and Womack used their aggressive play at the net to win 8-1 at No. 3 doubles. Pedersen trailed 6-5, but came back to win at No. 3 singles.
Coach’s quote: “The girls played very well against Londonderry and played smart tennis.” – Concord’s Kia DeAngelis
Records: Concord 5-7; Londonderry 2-8
Goffstown 8, Pembroke 1
Key players: Pembroke – Katherine Jameson (8-6 win at No. 4 singles)
Records: Pembroke 1-11; Goffstown 4-7
Coe-Brown 6, ConVal 3
Key players: Coe-Brown – Megan Wimsatt (8-4 win at No. 1), Mary Thoms (8-0 win at No. 4), Addy Leifer (8-2 win at No. 5), Lily Libbey (8-3 win at No. 6)
Highlights/key moments: The Bears held a 4-2 lead through singles and secured a victory in their regular season finale thanks to wins from Meski Wallace and Thoms (8-3) at No. 2 doubles and Leifer and Libbey (8-1) at No. 3 double.
Coach’s quote: “A good way to end the season. We hope to make the Division III tournament next week.” – Coe-Brown’s Mark Struthers
Records: Coe-Brown 9-5; ConVal 3-10
Bishop Brady 9, Timberlane 0
Key players: Brady – Sydney Herrington (8-0 win at No. 1 singles), Rachel Achong (8-0 win at No. 2), Alexa Bonvie (8-1 win at No. 3), Mary Anne Wiley (8-2 win at No. 4), Addie Dinsmoor (8-3 at No. 5), Sarah Haynes (8-4 win at No. 6)
Highlights/key moments: It was a successful senior night for the Green Giants, who swept their way through the match to get back to .500.
Records: Brady 6-6; Timberlane 4-6
Concord 9, Londonderry 0
Key players: Concord – Kevin Neary (8-1 win at No. 1), Ethan Crandlemire (8-2 win at No. 2), Liam Grennon (8-6 win at No. 3), Anders Norton (8-1 win at No. 4), Nate Levine (8-1 win at No. 5), Winsor Bean (8-0 win at No. 6)
Highlights/key moments: After sweeping singles, Neary and Norton paired up for the Tide at No. 1 doubles for an 8-1 win.
Coach’s quote: “Our kids played well on a hot day to secure a tournament berth in what we hope was our final match at the Memorial Field tennis facility this season.” – Concord’s Dave Page
Records: Concord 10-2; Londonderry 4-8
Bow 7, Kearsarge 2
Key players: Bow – Brayden Binder, Caleb Olson, Zach Mullen, Dillan D’Allesandro, Jon Cook, Daniel Silva; Kearsarge – Tucker Valovic, Toby Macleod
Highlights/key moments: The Falcons swept all six singles matches to earn the victory. Kearsarge’s lone two wins came from Macleod and Valovic at No. 1 doubles, and the pairing of Xavier Blasingame and Bradnon Waddell at No. 3 doubles.
Records: Bow 9-2; Kearsarge 3-11
Gilford 7, Littleton 2
Key players: Gilford – Christian Workman (8-2 win at No. 1 singles), Tyler Hanf (8-2 win at No. 2 singles), Mikey Eisenmann (8-1 win at No. 3 singles), Colton Workman (8-2 win at No. 4 singles), Donny Searle (8-3 win at No. 5 singles), Brendan Bergman (8-5 win at No. 6 singles)
Highlights/key moments: Christian Workman and Hanf teamed up for a 9-7 win at No. 1 doubles.
Records: Gilford 12-0; Littleton 9-4