Girls tennis team shines in win versus Franklin

By Jay Turner

Last week was an exciting one for the Canton High girls tennis team as the lady Bulldogs picked up their first win of the spring with a 3-2 thriller over Franklin while also battling hard against defending Division 2 state champion Foxboro in an eventual 4-1 defeat.

Senior captain Julia Burkowsky (Mike Barucci photo)

Head coach Joel Chamberlain said he was utterly thrilled with the girls’ performance against the Panthers, a talented squad that returned many of its starters from last season. Yet it was a pair of newcomers at second doubles — freshmen Stelina Michaelidis and Sarah Hernandez — who proved to be the difference for Canton as the duo held on for a 6-4, 6-3 win to seal the team’s first victory.

Also coming up huge against Franklin and earning special recognition from Chamberlain was sophomore Kiki Karavas, who started for the first time at third singles and won a marathon match against a tough opponent 6-7 (3-7), 6-2, 6-0. The first doubles duo of senior captain Julia Burkowski and junior Jena Moyle picked up the team’s third win of the day and did so in dominant fashion, winning 6-1, 6-2.

Chamberlain said the victory was very much a team effort and had high praise for all seven of his starters, including first and second singles players Jamie Cree and Adina Jean, who played well in defeat. “I could not be more proud of the team and how they handled our first win of the year,” said the Canton coach.

As for the match against Foxboro earlier in the week, Chamberlain said the Bulldogs gave it their all against an “enormously talented” Warriors team with Michaelidis and Hernandez earning the team’s lone win at second doubles (6-2, 7-5).

Now 1-6, the girls were due to play four straight matches this week, starting with Taunton on Monday and continuing this afternoon at Milford. The girls will then travel to North Attleboro on May 8 and host Milford in a rematch on May 10.

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