Lynnfield Girls Top Seed In Tennis Tournament

With five girls' tennis state championships already in the bank, can Lynnfield make it six?

The Pioneers begin the second season as the top seed in Division 3 North, whose pairings were announced Tuesday. Coach Craig Stone and the Lynnfield girls earned a first round bye and will open tournament play Saturday at 4 p.m. at home against the winner of the first-round match Thursday between No. 8 seed Bishop Fenwick (13-7) and No. 9 Swampscott (10-6).

Lynnfield's last state title came in 2014 and the Pioneers have won three straight sectional crowns. Saugus is the No. 2 seed in the sectional at 16-2. Lynnfield's only loss this spring was to Manchester Essex and those two teams could meet in the sectional semis. Manchester Essex is the No. 4 seed at 12-3.

The girls are not alone in the tournament. The boys' team went 11-5 and is the No. 7 seed in Division 3 North. Lynnfield will host No. 10 Hamilton-Wenham (9-7) Thursday in a first round match.

Photo of Lynnfield coach Craig Stone by Bob Holmes