Girls’ tennis team splits matches for 2nd straight week

The CHS girls’ tennis team faced two difficult teams last week, falling to Foxboro before bouncing back to beat Mansfield to bring its overall season record to 2-2.

Monday’s match brought the players to Foxboro, one of the deepest teams in the league, and it showed on the court as the Warriors cruised to a 4-1 win. Mirroring Canton, Foxboro’s top two singles players are sisters. CHS freshman Erika Nannery went up against two-time Hockomock League MVP Alana Prinos, a familiar opponent from USTA tournaments. Despite playing hard, Nannery was overcome in two sets (6-2, 6-1). Her sister, Michaela, lost to Alana’s sister, Emma, also 6-2, 6-1. Third singles and first doubles lost as well.

Second doubles brought the match’s lone point. Freshman Pranathi Ganni paired with sophomore Kristen Burns for what coach Sheila Conneely deemed a “tight three-set duel.” After clawing their way out of a first-set tiebreak, Ganni and Burns ran through an easy second set before fighting off their opponents in a close third set. Their final score was 6-7 (7-2), 6-0, 7-5.

The Bulldogs were out for vengeance on Thursday when they met Mansfield, always a tough opponent, in a 4-1 win. “We played, by far, our best match of the season,” Conneely said.

Any confidence the team may have lost against Foxboro came roaring back as each player set a new standard for herself. Erika Nannery defeated Mansfield’s Emma Yeransian, one of the Hockomock League’s top players, 6-2, 6-1.

Just a freshman, Erika has been playing for many years and trains at the Weymouth Club. She participates in numerous USTA tournaments in singles and doubles, at levels 6 and 7, the two highest NRTP rankings.

Sophomores Aimee Pina and Eleni Papadoppoulos played their first match together, winning 6-2, 7-5. Ganni and Burns also won their second doubles match, 6-3, 6-4.

The highlight of the competition was Michaela Nannery at second singles. At one point, she was down 4-1 in what looked to be a lost first set. But where others would easily have given up, Michaela “refocused,” said Conneely, “and reeled off an amazing 11 straight games to take the match 6-4, 6-0.” Like her sister, Michaela trains at the Weymouth Club. She “also runs cross-country,” Conneely said, “and has her hand in a variety of things.”

The team travels next to North Attleboro and Franklin.

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Posted by Kelsey Oates on Apr 21 2011. Filed under High School, Sports. Both comments and pings are currently closed.