PEABODY — Is there anybody out there who can beat the undefeated Swampscott girls tennis team?
At the moment, the answer appears to be no.
Ranked No. 6 in the Division 3 power rankings, Swampscott (16-0) has dropped just eight matches all season, rolling to 5-0 sweeps in 11 of its 16 matches. The closest any team has come to playing spoiler are two Division 3 rivals, No. 8 Bishop Fenwick (10-5) and No. 2 Lynnfield (14-2), both of which fell 3-2 to Swampscott.
First-year Swampscott coach Emily Cilley said playing a challenging non-league schedule that includes matches against strong teams like the Crusaders and Pioneers has paid off.
“It’s nerve-wracking for me when they are close, but I want to see more challenging matches for the girls,” Cilley said. “Nobody really enjoys a 6-0, 6-0 blowout on either side. When there’s good competition, it just makes it more fun for them. It makes you more proud of your win, also. We have some girls on this team who are in a good headspace right now. They just push through, and I’m proud of them for that.”
The Big Blue’s most recent win came Sunday at home against conference rival Marblehead in a rematch of Swampscott’s 4-1 win in April.
Swampscott cruised in this one, defeating the visiting Magicians 4-1 to complete a season sweep.
Cilley said the match was much tougher than the score indicated.
“Today was hot, and all the girls were struggling,” Cilley said.
Nikki Carr (12-0) remained undefeated at first singles with a 6-1, 6-3 win over Marblehead’s Samara Dosch.
In the longest match of the day, freshman Ginger Gregoire improved to 12-0 with a 6-2, 4-6 win at second singles over the Magicians’ Callie Gilmore in a super tiebreaker (10-4).
“Ginger and Callie both were battling hard and played a very competitive match, but Ginger has this mental toughness and she wasn’t going to back down and she fought hard to hold her,” Cilley said.
In a back-and-forth battle, the Swampscott’s Ana Eccles led 5-4 in the first set of the third singles match and won by forfeit after Sophia Li retired due to illness.
Twins Ava and Alexia O’Donnell dropped the first doubles match to Marblehead’s Joy Meshulam and Caroline Bruett, 3-6, 4-6.
Lilly Carr and Eve Byrne defeated Harper Mooney and Lily O’Keefe, 6-3, 6-2, in the second doubles match. Carr (10-0) and teammate Sasha Fafel (8-0) remain undefeated in the second doubles position.
On Saturday, during Bishop Fenwick’s Senior Day, Swampscott earned a 3-2 victory. It marked the second time this season the Big Blue defeated the Crusaders by one point.
Carr got things started with a 6-2, 6-3 win over Fenwick’s Caroline O’Hare at first singles.
Gregoire won at second singles against Kit Wichroski, 6-4, 6-3, while Byrne and Janielle De La Cruz defeated Kylie Murphy and Tiffany Dorsey, 6-2, 6-1, at second doubles.
Fenwick’s Jackie Dormer and Maggie Wichroski prevailed against the O’Donnell twins at first doubles, 6-3, 7-5.
In the longest match of the day, Fenwick’s Callie Reed defeated Eccles, 6-3, 6-2 in the third singles match.
“It seems like there’s always a marathon match with Swampscott,” Fenwick coach Sharon Church said. “We had one in our previous match against Swampscott on their courts. We’ve been getting better and better as the season has gone on. We take all of our losses and hope we can regroup from them.
“Swampscott is just an amazing team, and the girls seemed really well matched, so even though we lost, I think it was a good match for everyone.”
Cilley liked what she saw across the board, especially from De La Cruz.
“She is one of my reserve varsity players, and while she prefers singles, I don’t have a singles spot open,” Cilley said. “I put her in today because she is a strong player, and she did tremendously. She made us proud today.”
Church praised the play of Dormer and Wichroski at doubles.
“Jackie and Maggie are such an amazing team,” Church said. “They have great communication and athleticism. They have everything — the full package. I believe they have only lost one match all year.”
Swampscott’s final regular-season match is Monday against conference foe Masconomet at 4 p.m.
“I think they are going to be tough, like today,” Cilley said. “Our last three matches are definitely challenging, and I’m trying to play my best team.”
