Lynnfield girls tennis in state final

LEXINGTON – One more victory. That’s all that stands between the Lynnfield girls tennis team and a perfect season, capped off with its fourth MIAA Division 3 state title in as many tries.View Photo GalleryThe top-seeded Pioneers (20-0) defeated South representative, Ursuline Academy, 3-2, Monday afternoon at Lexington High. The win sets up the state champion match Wednesday between the Pioneers and Notre Dame (Worcester) at St. John’s Shrewsbury.”I couldn’t be more pleased with what we’ve accomplished as a team to this point,” explained coach Craig Stone who has been at the helm for 11 state semifinals victories.”I knew we were in for a special year after seeing the blend of returning talent and new faces in the first couple weeks of the season. The potential was there and we’ve worked hard ever since, taking things one match at a time.”Lynnfield got wins from the sibling tandem of Sloan and Logan Colby-Nunzito at second doubles, Sarah Mezini at first singles and Kelley Nevils who provided the clincher after cruising to a 6-1, third set victory at second singles.Up 5-1 in the finale, Nevils opened up a 30-love lead before Sara Curtis rallied to force deuces on two occasions. The former took the advantage after a lengthy rally forced a long return shot before ending the match with a great hustle play that set up a slam at the net.”Kelley knew that it was up to her and she did a great job finishing things off,” said Stone. “She told me after that she never wanted to be in that situation again but she’s a great competitor and contributed a big point today.”Nevils controlled the tempo in the opener against Curtis, scoring a 6-1 win before an intense second set ended with the latter prevailing in a tiebreaker, 7-6 (4).The Colby-Nunzito sisters bested Claire Stargard and Olivia Whalen 6-4 in the opener before some nerves forced a tiebreaker in the ensuing set which began with the teams exchanging points until it was 3-3.A perfectly-placed forehand from Logan gave the Pioneers a 5-3 before an unforced error on Sloan set up the winning sequence. The former forced match-point with some fantastic work at the net before a forehand smash to the left-line end things.”Sloan and Logan got into the end of their second set and began struggling with putting two points together which was a bit frustrating for them,” said Stone. “Every point was a big one at that stage of the match and they finally finished it off.”Mezini, one of two Lynnfield freshmen, gave her side the 1-0 lead after defeating Emily Curtis in straight sets (6-4, 6-0). Fellow first-year Katie Nevils bested Ursuline’s Jill Kamphaus, 6-3, in the first set before the Bears No.3 rallied for consecutive 6-4 wins.”Sarah has been there for us from the get-go, and got us off and running today. Katie has been a work in progress all season long. She struggled later on in her match but she’s a great athlete and her play continues to improve every time out.”Ursuline’s first doubles team of Ariana Lambrus and Alessia Cahoon topped Danielle Soden and Olivia Skelley 6-4, 6-4.”We have five-point potential against every team we face because of our balance and Ursuline is the same way. No one position is more important that another. You need three points to win. It’s a team sport with an individual emphasis.”