Medfield Girls' Tennis Having Fun with Success

It has been a very successful season for the Medfield High School girls' tennis team.

The Warriors finished the regular season 20-0; achieved the season goal of winning their second straight Tri-Valley League title and earned the second seed in the MIAA Division 2 South Sectional State Tournament. But perhaps most importantly, amid all the success, has had fun.

"The season has been fun every day," said Medfield head coach Chris DuBose. "The players get along very well; the seniors make sure the juniors and sophomores are included in all activities and share in the success and the fun."

DuBose said the team's depth has been both its greatest strength this season and the key to its success. 

"Not only have we won all our doubles matches all year, we have done so with many different combinations of players," said DuBose. "One of our seniors, Lauren Buscone, has won 10 doubles matches during the season, though she is not in our conventional lineup. Gabi Bergonzi has filled in at No. 3 six times and has won five of those matches."

Medfield's three captain's have also made significant contributions to the team's unbeaten regular season as Julia Basiliere has played both first and second doubles; Kate Goldense and her partner, Hunter Stahl, are unbeaten at No. 1 doubles and Alex Freeman has played No. 1 singles for three years now. 

"[Julia] has improved steadily as the season progressed," said DuBose. "[Kate Goldense and Hunter Stahl] played in the North section of the Individuals tournament, advancing to the quarterfinals. [Alex Freeman] advanced to the quarterfinals of the singles in the Individuals Tournament. She sets the standard for the entire team with her work ethic and her skills."

DuBose also noted Hannah Oliphant "has held down the No. 3 spot in singles for two years now" and has played No. 2 singles at times when called upon. Oliphant played No. 2 singles in the second match with Hopkinton this season, defeating the Hillers' No. 2 singles player in straight sets. 

Heading into the 2011 season, DuBose said his team's goal was for each girl to simply "try to be the best [player] she could become." As a team, the Warriors' wanted to play well and to represent Medfield with pride and respect for its opponents. 

Those goals were easily achieved. 

A lofty goal, according to DuBose, that the girls' set their sights on was winning the TVL title for the second straight season, another goal they achieved with a perfect mark both in the league and overall. 

"Last year's team, with Morgan Gagne at No. 2 [singles] and Nicole Paraboschi at No. 1 doubles, won that TVL title and this year's group of girls, with five returning starters, thought it would be a good goal to repeat that performance," DuBose said. 

Another goal achieved. 

Something the team did achieve without thinking much of it was perhaps the hardest of all three to accomplish – a perfect regular season. Medfield won all 20 of its regular season matches, much to the credit of the previous mentioned talent and depth on the roster. 

"Going undefeated was never mentioned," DuBose said. "It was not a priority. However, we knew certain matches – Hopkinton, Westwood, King Philip – would pose a great challenge to us. We entered those matches with great focus and high expectations for ourselves, knowing that our opponents were formidable."

Now, with all their regular season goals achieved, the Warriors find themselves in the state tournament as the number two seed in Division 2 South bracket. What's the next goal for this team? 

"We would like to play our best tennis during the tournament," DuBose said. "Each player hopes to play her best as the tournament progresses."

Medfield opens its MIAA Division 2 South Sectional State Tournament play against Milton at home on Saturday, June 4 at 3:30 p.m.