Lynnfield Knocks Off Manchester Essex In North Tennis

There were no trophies handed out and there is more tennis to play, but when the Lynnfield girls look back at the 2017 season, Wednesday's win over Manchester Essex could be the biggest of the year.

After suffering their only loss, 3-2, to Manchester Essex last month, Lynnfield reversed the score in the Division 3 North semifinals, beating the Hornets by the same score to advance to Friday's sectional final. And as has been the case all year, Lynnfield was led by a determined senior class that despite graduating last Friday, is still playing hard for their old school.

"It's a huge thing, we really want to go all the way," said senior Katie Nugent, who teamed with sophomore Alexa Vittiglio to win at first doubles. "We won states freshman year and we've won the North the last three years. We really want to win it again this year to keep it going, especially as seniors."

All three wins came from seniors. At No. 1 singles, Sarah Mezini (UMass-Amherst) beat Chanel Bullock 4-6, 7-6, 6-4. It was the second straight time Mezini went three sets to beat Bullock. Both doubles teams won, the reverse of what happened last month against the Hornets (13-4). Nugent (Roger Williams College) and Vittiglio won 6-4, 7-6. And at No. 2 doubles, Allison Carey (Vermont) and Laura Mucci (Western Washington) won 3-6, 6-3, 6-0.

"Overall, I think both doubles played solid games. We minimized the unforced the errors like coach [Craig] Stone told us," said Nugent, who will play volleyball in college and study business.

Manchester's Christina Bullock beat Camie Foley (Endicott) at No. 2 singles, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 and at No. 3 singles, August Kahle beat Lynnfield's Katie Nevils (Ithaca) 6-4, 6-2. But everyone on the Pioneers side agreed, beating the one team that beat them was special.

"I'd say so," said Nugent. "Manchester Essex is always a really competitive match so it meant a lot to beat them. After losing to them in the season it meant a lot more to beat them in the tournament."

Next up is the North final against Austin Prep on Friday. The Pioneers beat AP, 5-0, two weeks ago.