Tennis: Lynn girls squads set for showdown

Lynn English will play host to a key Northeastern Conference South girls tennis match against Classical today at 4.Both the Bulldogs and Rams come into the match off weekend victories, over Saugus and Somerville, respectively.English 5, Saugus 0At Saugus, the Bulldogs’ (10-1) No. 1 Scarlett Santana went the distance in a 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 win. No. 2 Daniella Krische (6-2, 6-1) and No. 3 Thanh Bui (6-0, 6-0) completed the singles sweep while No. 1 Alise Rittershaus and Sarah Cowdell (6-1, 6-2) and No. 2 Dina Robles and Kelly Santana (6-0, 6-0) rolled in doubles play.Classical 4, Somerville 1At Lynn, the Rams (10-2) rolled to victory, highlighted by the 2-6, 6-1, 6-3 win of the second doubles team of juniors Zuwena Marian and Julia Baraily in their first-ever varsity match. No. 1 Saska Icitovic (6-0, 6-1), No. 2 Ashley Ellis (6-3, 6-0) and No. 3 Stella Athanasopoulos (6-3, 6-4) didn’t surrender a set in singles play.Fenwick 4, Williams 1At Fenwick, the Crusaders got wins from Jess Griffin at second singles, 6-3, 6-3; Taylor Shelgren at third singles; Colleen Sears-Amanda Ness, first doubles, 6-7, 6-0, 6-0; and Megan McGonigle-Sara Kanarkiewicz, second doubles, 6-2, 6-1.Lynnfield 4, Peabody 1At Peabody, the Pioneers (8-4) qualified for the State Tournament for the 30th consecutive season. No. 2 Ava Grava (6-4, 4-6, 6-3) and No. 3 Molly McCarthy (6-3, 6-3) picked up singles victories. The No. 1 tandem of Jordan Miller and Gabby Pina (6-4, 6-3) and the No. 2 pair of Danielle Soden and Emily Shea (7-6, 6-4) swept doubles.BOYS TENNISSt. John’s Prep 5, Marblehead 0At Danvers, the Magicians had some solid performances but didn’t win a set in a match played Friday. Chris Wigglesworth pushed SJP’s state seeded junior Chris Toner at No. 1 singles before falling, 6-4, 7-5. Freshman Griffin Butterfield fell to Niko Limacher at No. 2, 6-0, 6-0 and freshman Dimitri Vlassov dropped a 6-0-1, 6-1 decision to Ian Wright at No. 3. The first doubles tandem of Austin Harshbarger and Miles Barry had a solid showing in a 6-2, 6-2 loss to Dan and Tim Cunningham. Second doubles Tyler Beck and Ben Webber lost 6-1, 6-0.The Prep doubles team of Mark Corvi and Ian Wright won a North doubles title on Sunday against a team from Lexington, 7-6, 7-5, 6-3. They advance to the state semifinals at Clark University on June 16.In other boys tennis action, Fenwick fell to Lowell Catholic, 5-0.