LYNNFIELD — Let’s just say there wasn’t much drama in this one.
The No. 6 Swampscott girls tennis team came into enemy territory undefeated and looking to punch its ticket to the Division 3 Final Four while knocking off No. 3 Lynnfield for a second time this season.
Mission accomplished on both counts.
The Big Blue (21-0) needed little more than 75 minutes to upset the Pioneers, 4-1, keep their magical season alive and extend their winning streak to 21 matches.
“We are completely thrilled with today’s results,” Big Blue coach Emily Cilley said. “We even almost got a set out of the first doubles match. I’m so proud of these girls as they’ve worked really hard for this. It just gets more exciting by the moment.”
While disappointed that the Pioneers fell short, Cape Ann League Kinney Division Coach of the Year Craig Stone felt the loss doesn’t take away from the Pioneers’ success this season.
“We had three 4-6 first sets and had we gotten those in as wins and even gone to three sets, who knows with the heat what might have happened. Had we picked up one or two of them, they might have found a little extra coming in to push forward,” Stone said. “I’m so proud of what they’ve been able to accomplish, no matter who’s been in the lineup, and the fact that you’re even in the lineup is an incredible accomplishment. We finished 18-3 and were Cape Ann League Kinney champions. We’re in the Elite Eight, one of 65 teams to do so, so you have to be proud of making it that far.”
The first singles match featured a pair of league players of the year — the Big Blue’s Nikki Carr, the Northeastern Conference Dunn Division Player of the Year, against the Cape Ann League Kinney Division Player of the Year, Lynnfield senior captain Lily Alves.
In the shortest match of the day, it was game, set and match to Carr, 6-2, 6-1.
Ginger Gregoire doubled Swampscott’s lead to 2-0 with a 6-4, 6-0 win over Kathleen Brown at second singles.
Senior captain Ana Eccles took the third singles match against Olivia Asaad, 6-4, 6-0. Eccles said the key to the win was playing consistently from start to finish.
“That was definitely key for me, especially with the heat as it was very hot out there today,” said Eccles, who intends to play tennis at Bridgewater State University this fall. “I wanted to stay nice and patient with the ball and keep moving around and not miss any balls.”
“She was just so focused today,” Cilley said. “It’s easy to lose focus, but she just nailed it today.”
Lilly Carr and Eve Byrne defeated Emma Wagon and Charlotte Beccia, 6-4, 6-2, at second doubles.
Lynnfield’s only winner came from the first doubles team of Christine Choi and senior captain Vicky McCrann, who defeated senior captains Ava and Alexia O’Donnell, 6-0, 7-5.
“They (Choi/McCrann) started off on fire,” Stone said. “Then they got a little defensive when Swampscott started putting more balls in play, which put a lot more pressure on them to win it at the net. But they were able to finish. They’ve had an outstanding season with only one loss together all season.”
Stone wondered if things might have worked out differently had the Pioneers’ early-season match against Marblehead not been canceled because of adverse weather.
“We were leading in all five first sets, so when I looked at the draw starting, having those power points had the results held up would have had us as the No. 2 seed,” Stone said. “The only seed I didn’t like was against Swampscott because I knew that no matter who was playing one or two, it was going to be a tough win. That’s what happened today, putting all the pressure on three and both doubles. It was just a tough matchup.”
Swampscott is scheduled to play the winner of Friday’s quarterfinal match between No. 2 Dover-Sherborn and undefeated No. 7 Old Rochester Regional.
Cilley said that while she doesn’t really know much, if anything, about either potential opponent, she is confident the Big Blue will be ready.
“I don’t know the strengths of their opponents and they don’t know what we were going up against. I feel that sometimes it’s better not to know what you’re entering,” Cilley said. “I think it’s better to go in with a blank slate as opposed to knowing what you’re up against. All you can do is your best, and I think we’re ready to do that.”
“We are so excited about going to the Final Four,” Ava O’Donnell said.
“I think this might be the first time we’ve ever made it that far, and it feels amazing to be undefeated,” Alexia O’Donnell said.
