Girls Tennis Sneaks Past Feehan, Advances to Quarters, Baseball Done

The Wolverines' tennis squad edged out Bishop Feehan 3-2 Saturday afternoon at home, as they advanced to the quarterfinals of the D-2 South Tournament.

With second and third singles already victorious and both doubles losing, the match was put on the shoulders of junior MaryKate Norton.

Norton, who dominated her first set 6-1, dropped the second, 4-6 and found herself trailing 1-2 in the third. She used her power game to out-stroke her opponent Colleen Scanlon and mixed her shots well, catching Scanlon off guard on numerous occasions.

“It seems like throughout her career it always comes down to her and she’s always getting us through it,” said Westwood coach Paul Houston. “I think she likes the pressure and she performs well under it.”

Norton fought back to win the next five games and took the set 6-2, ultimately winning the match for her team.

Kelley Steeves and Abby Groton took second and third singles with ease, as they each dominated in straight sets. Steeves won her match 6-3 6-3 and Groton won 6-0 6-3. Groton, who trailed three games to two in the second set, went on to win the next four games for the match.

“They’re very consistent players," said Houston about his second and third singles. "They’re mentally tough and they’re athletic and they just keep bringing that game.” 

Doubles had rough go around as neither pair could catch a break in the first set. Both first and second doubles dropped their first sets in the tiebreaker and it seemed to be all downhill from there.

“It was nerves,” said Houston. “Losing a tiebreaker 0-7 and 1-7 is tough to get through, especially since first doubles are made up of a freshman and a sophomore but they’ll work through that.”

Lilly Steeves and Joanne Nasr made up first singles and Jing Li and Andrea Winn played second doubles.

With the win, Westwood will now play the winner of top-seeded Situate vs. Medway on Tuesday afternoon.

The varisty baseball team, meanwhile, wrapped up its season Saturday with an extra-inning loss against Abington.

The Wolverines took a 4-2 lead into the last of the seventh, when the No. 2 ranked Green Wave tied the game and eventually won it in nine innings. Westwood failed to avenge its playoff loss to Abington from two years ago.