Boys’ tennis team wins three in big week

By Jeffrey Pickette

On the heels of dropping all three matches the week before, the CHS boys’ tennis team bounced back last week, going 3-1 with wins over Franklin, Oliver Ames and Mansfield to improve to 6-7 on the season.

“Practices have been key to the wins,” head coach Leo Nelson wrote in an e-mail to the Citizen. “I have a very honest team that looks at what they need to improve on, and they make that adjustment.”

Canton beat Franklin 4-1 last Monday and OA 3-2 last Wednesday. Against OA, first singles player Sam Biggers and second singles player Luke Shaprio won their respective matches in straight sets. The first doubles team of Brian Kodzis and Matt Buckley secured the final point for Canton, giving the Bulldogs the win.

Last Thursday’s match against Mansfield epitomized the team’s sudden bounce-back from its losing ways the week before. Canton lost to Mansfield 4-1 on April 29, but a week later beat the Hornets 5-0 to cap a three-match winning streak.

Nelson credited Biggers and third singles player Scott Chamberlain for their respective performances in the win and was also impressed with the tandem of Kodzis and Buckley.

“Kodzis and Buckley are really clicking as a team and working toward the net more and putting the ball away when they get a chance,” Nelson said.

Canton was shorthanded last Friday at Cohasset, losing 4-1 in the non-league match. Peter Sidney, filling in at the third singles position, scored the lone Canton point.

The team has five matches left in the regular season and needs to win at least three to finish at .500 and qualify for the state tournament.

“We need to stick with our consistency and push each other during practices,” Nelson said. “The seniors need to stay focused and show great poise to close out one the best seasons Canton tennis has seen in a long time.”

The team played at Foxboro on Wednesday and plays North Attleboro at home today (Thursday).

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