Pioneers look to blaze trail in MIAA tennis

The Lynnfield High girls tennis team will bring a perfect 16-0 record to its opening round match in the Division 3 North tournament.The Pioneers have set the standard this spring, winning the Cape Ann League Small title for the first time since 2009. They?ll be playing the winner of Ipswich/Pope John Friday at home at 3:30 p.m.Lynnfield has been pretty much unstoppable, led by No. 1 singles player Sara Mezini. Mezini is part of a formidable singles contingent. The Pioneers? doubles teams, with the sister duo of Logan and Sloan Colby-Nunziato in the one spot, are also a force. Swampscott (15-2) has also had a great season with one of its losses coming against Lynnfield in a non-league match. The Big Blue, which won the Northeastern Conference Small title, will play the winner of Thursday?s North Reading/Watertown matchup on a day and time to be announced. The match will be in Swampscott.In Division 1 North, Peabody (13-2) checked in as the three seed. The Tanners will play the winner of Thursday?s Classical/Lexington match (date and time TBA). The Rams, under coach Cathy Ellis, finished 10-6, earning them the 11th seed. Thursday?s match against Lexington is in Lexington at 3:30 p.m.Marblehead, led by singles players Hannah Cohen, Lily Frontero and Alice Yufa, will try to make some headway in Division 2 North. The Magicians are the No. 8 seed with a 12-6 record. They?ll play fellow Northeastern Conference team Gloucester Thursday at 5 p.m. at Marblehead.BOYS TENNISSt. Mary?s is seeded third in Division 3 with a 12-3 record and as a result, the Spartans draw a bye into the semifinals. They will play the winner of the first-round matchup between Watertown and North Reading Saturday at 2 p.m. at the Lynn English courts.The Spartans have had good results from their singles players, particularly Brady Ryan at No. 1, all season. Ryan, a seventh grader, finished 13-2 in the top spot. Matt McManus (11-3) at second singles and Patrick Morin-Plante at third singles round out the trio of Catholic Central League All-Stars. Plante?s overall record was 13-2 in the various spots he?s played in. First doubles player Conor Foley was also named a CCL All-Star.The Spartans went 8-2 in the Catholic Central League, taking second place behind winner Austin Prep.In Division 1, No. 6 St. John?s Prep and No. 11 Peabody will square off against each other at The Prep Thursday (3:30).In Division 2 North, Danvers, Beverly and Marblehead will represent the Northeastern Conference. The Falcons are the third seed, and will get a bye into the quarterfinals, where they?ll play either No. 6 Beverly or No. 11 Arlington (who play Friday at 3:30) Saturday at 2.Marblehead will host Reading in a first-round game Thursday (3:30).In Division 3, Lynnfield, at 7-6, is seeded ninth and will play a first-round match Thursday (3:30) at Bedford. The winner plays at No. 1 Manchester Saturday (2).