Wayland Girls' Tennis Improves In Spite of Rematch Loss

A rematch with Bedford High School may have created a repeat result on paper, but coach Erin Reeves saw improvement in Wayland girls' tennis during the team's late season rematch.

Battling on both top number courts, the host Warriors lost 5-0 to their DCL (small) rivals on Tuesday.

“Last time the scores were not very close, but today I thought we competed much better,” said Reeves. “Their first two singles players have been one and two for a while and at least one of their first doubles players played last year. They are just experienced.”

The loss drops Wayland to 4-7 overall and 2-7 in conference, while improving Bedford to 3-3 both overall and in conference.

In what has become a three-year biannual match for the two teams, Bedford junior Sydney Arsenault defeated senior captian Meredith Riley 1-6, 6-4, 4-6 at No. 1. With Arsenault up 5-2 to open the final set, Riley used a combination of short and long distance shots to offset the junior and grab two straight games.

“It is a little weird, but I feel better when I am down,” said Riley. “I was just trying to be consistent and get my stroke back.”

Now up only 5-4, Arsenault settled in to sweep the final game. After a few deep shots from Arsenault forced miscues, Riley caught the junior up on the net but just overshot the back line for a set and match loss.

“[Arsenault] is a real power hitter and she does well when someone hits the ball low to her,” said Riley. “She does not want to come to the net, but she is pretty fast so she can usually get to the net anyways. She also loves taking all the angle shots.”

In other singles action Bedford senior Alexa Pappas overcame sophomore Katherine McNamara 3-6, 1-6 at No. 2, while Buccaneers sophomore Hannah Mardini beat junior Emma Barton 1-6, 0-6 at No. 3.

“We were looking for the singles to be able to strategize against their opponents as far as picking and choosing where their opponents had weaknesses,” said Bedford coach Susan Adamik. “Strategizing more than just trying to hit through them.”

Losing both double matches in two sets, the Warriors No. 2 doubles partners sophomore Drew Canavan and junior Dina Berdichevsky fell two games shorts of fighting for a third set. Berdichevsky and Canavan lost to Bedford freshman Maya Biswas and sophomore Sarah Cowles 4-6, 2-6 at No. 2, while Buccaneers doubles partners senior Gabby Queeian and junior Sarita Biswas bested freshman Allison Wei and Marissa Daftary 3-6, 1-6 at No. 1.

“We had better net play at doubles,” said Adamik. “Doubles are won at the net and if you have someone who is really active at net you usually go on top.”

The Warriors travel to Concord Carlisle (3-8, 3-7 DCL) at 4 p.m. Wednesday.