By Richard Slate
Staff writer
May 13, 2008 02:05 am Year in and year out, not much separates the Lynnfield and Manchester Essex girls tennis teams. They are two of the top programs on the North Shore and they routinely battle for the Cape Ann League small crown. This spring, the Pioneers (11-1, 11-0) came out on top, 3-2, on their home courts to clinch the league title. "Everything was looking good at the beginning," noted Hornets (8-2) coach Jeanne Stanton. "Our No. 2 doubles team was up 3-0 and Brittany (Collens) was on serve then she won her first set in the tiebreaker." In sequential order, Lynnfield's No. 2 singles Lindsey Buchanan defeated Manchester Essex's Annelise Eaton (6-3, 6-3). Next, Lynnfield's No. 2 doubles team of Jess DiFiuippo-Kristen DiFiuippo rallied to defeat Hannah Gurley-Ally Howlett (7-5, 3-6, 7-6 ((7-3)). Besides holding the early 3-0 lead, Gurley and Howlett had match point (up 5-4 in the third set) but eventually lost in the tiebreaker to the DiFiuippo sisters. The Pioneers held a 2-0 lead and No. 3 singles turned out to be the deciding contest. It was a marathon match that was won by Allison Bodek of Lynnfield, (7-6, 11-9, 6-3) against Hannah Daley of Manchester Essex. "Hannah had the really long tiebreaker and then she lost," Stanton said. "When you lose a set that long, it's usually hard to bounce back in such a grueling match." Hornet seventh grader Brittany Collens continued her impressive season as she defeated junior Jen George (7-6, ((7-3)), 2-6, 6-2) in the No. 1 singles match. The other Manchester Essex point came from the No. 1 doubles tandem of Courtney Pasquine-Amelia Cohen (6-4, 6-4), who defeated Tara Soni-Julia Brodall. "Our No. 1 doubles team and Brittany Collens played really well," remarked Stanton. "Every year when we play Lynnfield, it can go either way. It came down to the No. 3 singles match and No. 2 doubles which were very close matches." From here, Manchester Essex has two more regular season matches before the MIAA team tournament begins at the end of May. The Hornets travel to North Reading on Wednesday. "It was great tennis today, you just didn't know from game to game who would win," remembered Stanton. "A match like this gets us mentally tougher and the state tournament is what we set our sights on." Richard Slate is a sportswriter at the Gloucester Times and he can be reached by e-mail at 978-283-7000 (ex. 3449) or by e-mail: rslate@gloucestertimes.com
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