THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – Friday, May 10, 2019 Page 13 Girls’ tennis eyeing another postseason berth By Greg Phipps H aving gone 5-4 over the first half of the 2019 season, the Saugus High School girls’ tennis team has its sights set on a second consecutive postseason appearance. Head coach Kristen Gerety said this week the team is looking to earn a higher seed and perhaps make some noise in the playoffs. “I expect we will make the state tournament [and] that the team will surpass last year’s performance,” she observed. “Last season, we were the number seven seed and did not advance past the first round [a 4-1 loss to Amesbury]. With the roster we carry this year, especially in our singles players, I expect not only to make the tournament but that we will have a higher ranking with more success.” Sophomore Lanna Queiroz, the Sachems’ No. 1 singles player, had yet to be beaten this year as of early this week, and freshman Cadence Callahan and senior captain Kelly Gray have performed well as the second- and third-seeded singles players. The doubles teams of junior Jillian Ricupero and senior Vi Pham, and senior Alana Aldred and sophomore Paige Prezioso have also been solid overall. Freshman Diane Jubeili and senior Collette Webster are both alternates on this year’s squad. The individual state tourney takes place this weekend and Gerety has high hopes for Queiroz. “Last year, Lanna was one of eight seeded players in Division 3 North. She wasn’t eliminated until the third round,” Gerety pointed out. “I expect she will be seedMembers of the 2019 Saugus High School girls’ tennis team are shown in the front row from left to right: Diane Jubeili, Lanna Queiroz, Paige Prezioso and Colette Webster. Shown in the back row from left to right: Cadence Callahan, Alana Aldred, Jillian Ricupero, Vi Pham and Captain Kelly Gray. ed again and that we will see great things from her.” On Monday, the Sachems lost a hard-fought 4-1 decision to Lynn Classical at the Belmonte Middle School courts. “It was exciting until the end,” said Gerety, as Queiroz won her match by a convincing 6-0, 6-1 score to account for Saugus’s lone match victory. Callahan and Gray were both edged in close, three-set singles battles, and the visitors emerged on top in the doubles contests. Senior captain Kelly Gray has held down the No. 3 singles spot this season. Junior Jillian Ricupero competes for the No. 1 doubles team. Sophomore Lanna Queiroz has thrived as the team’s top singles player. She was undefeated as of early this week. (Advocate Photos by Greg Phipps)
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