Girls’ Tennis Falls at Home

The Arlington High girls' tennis team lost 5-0 to Chelmsford Friday in what was the last home match for the team's seven seniors.

"They've been such a large part of the team, I feel like they've made the team what it is," coach Danielle Rakowsky said Friday at the Crosby Courts.

She said all seven players have progressed dramatically over their four years. "They've all come along way," she said. "For the most part, they started on [junior-varsity] and have moved up to varsity."

Seniors like Jennie Hill and Tori Hegarty, who never played organized tennis before joining the team, are now major contributors, Rakowsky said.

Hill and her freshman partner, Charlotte Wells, took a tough Chelmsford duo to three sets Friday at second doubles but ultimately lost 2-6, 6-2, 2-6. Hill hit numerous backhand winners during the second set.

The Spy Ponders (5-10) lost all of their other matches in straight sets but did compete and win some games against a talented Chelmsford squad that's 11-3.

Senior Allie Glaser, a four-year varsity doubles player, and freshman Emily Molloi battled Danielle Candeleri and Hannah Schulze at first doubles to a 3-6, 3-6 loss.

Glaser, who will attend Tufts University in the fall, said her game has definitely improved over the years. "I've gotten more confident, more aggressive," she said.

She said her proudest moment as a Spy Ponder was winning the deciding match with her second-doubles partner against Arlington Catholic her sophomore year.

Seniors Beryl Taylor and Rebecca Montana played first and second singles, respectively, on Friday.

Taylor, who showed some pop with her forehand and serve, lost to Paige Gilet (2-6, 4-6). Montana, more of a finesse player, fell to Carolyn Kosewski (3-6, 2-6).

At third singles, sophomore Emma Schmitt, playing in her first varsity match, dropped two sets to Elissa Ludwig.

Emily Parravano and Claudine Cuddy are the team's other two seniors.

Arlington will play its next match at Bedford High on Monday at 4 p.m.