The Wilton-Lyndeborough girls’ tennis team had a shot at a Cinderella story Friday afternoon, but visiting Trinity dashed those dreams and danced away in victory.
Friday’s Division III tournament opener started early to allow Trinity’s upperclassmen a chance at attending that evening’s prom; as it turned out, the Pioneers left their seniors at home to ready up for the dance and brought a reduced team to Wilton to face the Warriors’ four-girl squad. As always, WLC defaulted at No. 5 and No. 6 singles and No. 3 doubles, starting the playoff match with an 3-0 deficit. Nevertheless, the Warriors made a match of it, showing the improvements they’ve made over the short season.
Head coach Fran Bujak said his team has made great strides this spring, which were eviden t on the court Friday.
“Multiple volleys back and forth over the net, getting to the ball – a huge improvement in getting to the ball,” Bujak said. “And even in a lot of the swings, keeping the ball in play instead of the ball, better timing and positioning, moving the feet better to get into position better, and making good contact rather than so many balls going off the court, as we had in the past.”
Trinity’s Harley Plasz made quick work of Madeleine Straw at No. 3 singles, 8-0, but the Warriors threatened in every other game. At No. 1, steady Warrior Elisabeth Jacob made Pioneer Devan Booth work hard for her 8-3 victory.
“[Booth] is a very good player,” Bujak said. “They were evenly matched though. It was a much closer match than the 8-3 final.”
WLC No. 2 Erin MacDonald took Trinity’s Clare Tran to tiebreaks before ultimately losing 9-7, and Senja Sours, trailing early on, won 8-4 over Molly Bacon to give the Warriors a win.
“She turned that thing completely around and came back,” Bujak said.
The Warriors were right in the doubles matches, too. Both teams – Jacob/MacDonald and Straw/Sours – lost 8-6, taking the Pioneers right down to the wire and finishing up the match just as the first raindrops started to hit the court. Ultimately, it was an 8-1 Trinity win, but for the young Warriors, it was invaluable postseason experience that should fuel their competitive spirit next spring, when all four Warriors are expected to return, and, ideally, add to their ranks.
“Everybody at least was in a competitive match in a tournament,” Bujak said. “I don’t think any coach could ask for anything more.”
Trinity now has a date with Conant, as the Orioles pulled off a rain-shortened victory at Pelham in their playoff opener on Friday. Conant won the top four singles positions and were well ahead in the top two doubles, coach Gloria Morison said, before the skies opened up and Pelham agreed to call it an Oriole victory, rather than resume at a later date.
Margaret Winiecki (8-0), Sarah Smith (8-3), Abby Wheeler (8-2) and Emily Muilenberg (8-1) all won their singles matches outright; Erin Weidner was in a heated 3-3 game when the match was called, and Bella Hart was up 4-2.
Trinity hosts Conant in the DIII quarterfinals at 4 p.m. Monday, weather permitting.