Sports Roundup: Boys Tennis Plays First Home Match Of Spring Season
David Creed •
This Whaler sports roundup includes updates on the boys tennis team after they played their first game of the season at home against a tough Cape & Island’s opponent, as well as the girls tennis team and the softball team.
Boys Tennis Plays First Home Match Of Spring Season
The boys tennis team welcomed the Monomoy Sharks to the island Wednesday afternoon for a league matchup against one of Div. 4’s tougher programs, the Monomoy Sharks. Nantucket lost 5-0, but a large chunk of the matchups were close and came down to the wire.
“I think the whole team played great,” head coach David Cheever said. “You know, I came out of the match feeling like that was a match we should have won. I really felt like we could have pulled that out 3-2 and I hate saying that when we lose 5-0 and I can see matches that we could have pulled out with a little bit more consistency.”
The results were as followed:
First Single: Boyan Kalpazanov lost in straight sets 5-7, 4-6.
Second Single: Nik Krastev lost in straight sets 3-6, 3-6.
Third Single: Fuller Holland lost in straight sets 2-6, 2-6.
"I think both (Boyan and Nik) think those were matches they could have won but Boyan did cramp up at the end there," Cheever said. "I think both of them played great. I think Boyan has got one adjustment coming. I think he needs to stand closer to the baseline and take the ball on the rise and not let somebody push him so far back all the time. Fuller went in against a good player and his shoulder was shot so he did the best he could. He didn't serve great, but I think he also played great overall.”
First Doubles: Forbes Keating and Sawyer Holland lost the first set 5-7, won the second set 6-4, and lost the third set 6-8.
Second Doubles: Thomas Schroeder and Knox Keating lost in straight sets 4-6, 4-6.
"I think Forbes and Sawyer were awesome," Cheever said. "Sawyer stepping up as a freshman and jumping into the match, and Forbes really taking care of him and being a senior leader like he was telling him don't worry about things and that he's going to learn, when I'm back there (on the court) you need to come back and stand over here. Sawyer has never played doubles. They had three match points that they could have pulled out their match on in that tiebreaker (third set). Both of them need to learn about momentum and take it from there. Thomas and Knox, it was Knox's first varsity outing against 11th and 10th graders. I don't think they'll ever lose to those two guys again. When they play them again, I think they'll be able to take them. They were just a little gun shy, and we need to work on our return of serves and a few other things.”
The Whalers will have a pair of matches over the weekend when they host Fairhaven on Friday, April 4th at 4 p.m. and then host Martha’s Vineyard on Saturday, April 5th at 11 a.m. You can view more photos from this match here.
Girls Tennis Loses To Monomoy On The Road
The girls tennis team began their season on Wednesday with a road matchup against the Monomoy Sharks and lost 4-0. Below are the results from the team’s first match of the spring.
First Single: Elis Vieth won the first set 6-4, but lost set two 0-6 and set three 1-6.
Second Single: Andrea Bunlerssak lost in straight sets 1-6, 0-6.
Third Single: Viktoria Bozhkova lost in straight sets 2-6, 3-6.
First Doubles: Sara Dussault and Sutton LeBrecht lost in straight sets 1-6, 3-6.
Second Doubles: Gabby Fee and Presy Penkova won the first set 6-4, but were unable to complete their match due to time constraints and limited courts available.
Whaler head coach Luke Thornewill said after the match that in general, there was a lot of good play from his team.
“We need to focus more on strategy court tactics and positioning,” Thornewill said. “If we understand this better, I think we have a decent chance of beating them on the next go round on home turf. Great effort and attitude though very early in the season.”
Nantucket’s next match will be on Saturday, April 5th on the road against Martha’s Vineyard at 12:15 p.m.
Softball Loses Road Matchup To Monomoy
The Whaler softball team dropped to 0-2 to begin their season following a 14-1 loss to the Monomoy Sharks on the road Wednesday afternoon. They will try to earn their first win of the season on Friday, April 4th at home against the Nauset Warriors at 4 p.m. This will be the team's home opener.
*Thursday’s girls lacrosse games and sailing regatta were postponed due to poor weather conditions*
Schedule Ahead:
Friday, April 4th:
The softball team will play their first home game of the spring when they host the Nauset Warriors at 4 p.m.
The boys tennis team will host Fairhaven at 4 p.m.
Saturday, April 5th:
The boys tennis team will be at home against Martha's Vineyard at 11 a.m.
The boys lacrosse team will play their first home game of the season at 11 a.m. against Martha's Vineyard.
The girls tennis team will be on the road against Martha's Vineyard at 12:15 p.m.
The girls lacrosse team will be on the road against Martha’s Vineyard at 12:30 p.m.
The softball team will both be on the road against Martha’s Vineyard at 12:30 p.m.
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