Scarlet Knights’ Report Card: Tennis

North Andover Patch will give each NAHS varisty spring team a report card throughout the week. This is part three of a three part series.

The boys and girls tennis teams combined for a 24-13 record in 2011. Both teams had strong seasons, especially the boys who had a deep playoff run. Let’s take a look at how each team did on their report cards.

Boys

The boys tennis team had their best season since 2005. They had a regular season record of 12-4 which exceeded expectations and had fans consumed with the squad until the sectional championship match.

The season may have started out with a loss, (3-2 to Manchester Essex) but the boys proved that they would be a force with the seven match winning streak that followed. The winning streak consisted of wins against Masco, Amesbury, and Wilmington as the boys quickly ensured they would be contenders for the Division 2 North title.

After that streak, three losses followed against very difficult opponents. Hamilton-Wenham, Andover, and Pentucket all beat North Andover in a predictably difficult stretch.

The Knights responded with a streak that surpassed the success of their early season run. North Andover won their next eight contests against squads that included Beverly, Triton and North Reading.

Going into the playoffs, North Andover held the sixth seed. Malden Catholic had no chance against the Knights and fell to North Andover 5-0 in the tournament’s first round.

in the quarterfinals in a match that may have been the highlight of the season. A hard fought against Cambridge earned North Andover a shot in the sectional finals against Winchester. Winchester earned a 5-0 win to send North Andover home empty handed.

Final Grade: A

The Knights had their best season in six years. They upset Malden and found their way into the sectional final where many people were surprised to see them.

Girls

The girls’ squad had a bumpy road into the MIAA playoffs. It was an up and down year that saw the team start things off with a 5-0 win against North Reading.

North Andover fell in their next two matches against Masco and Ipswich, but a three match winning streak followed shortly.

The Knights’ confidence improved with consecutive wins against Amesbury, Rockport, and Newburyport from late April into early May.

Later on in the season, the Knights’ dropped three straight against Andover, Manchester Essex, and Lynnfield. All hope was not lost as the Knights picked themselves up and won three out of their next four to earn a berth in the MIAA Division 2 North playoffs.

Against Concord Carlisle in the first round of the tourney, North Andover had no answer. The Knights lost 5-0 which ended their season.

Final Grade: B-

North Andover had a slightly above average regular season (9-7) and fell as the 12^th seed to #5 Concord-Carlisle in the first round.