Girls Tennis: Falcons Win Last Tune-Up Match in Preparation for Playoffs

Cranston West traveled to Lincoln on Friday evening to finish up the regular season of Division II Girls Tennis. The Falcons were undefeated against opponents not named Smithfield this season and that streak continued, as the Falcons were dominant in their 6-1 victory over the Lions.

First Singles was a hard fought match, with both players implementing a safe and conservative style. Because of the similar styles, it became a war of attrition, with both players trying to wear each other out. The marathon of a match exhausted almost two hours, with Theresa Cannata outlasting Lauren Giarrusso 6-2 6-3, giving Cranston West a 1-0 lead.

The Falcons were upended in Second Singles, as Keiki Oki dictated play for the Lions, defeating Jenna Grossi 6-4 6-1.

Falcons' Rebecca Scialabba defeated Emily Duval in a tight Third Singles match, 6-4 6-2. And the ever steady Danielle Leonardo dominated her Fourth Singles match over Sydney Duquette, 6-1 6-1 to give Cranston West a commanding 3-1 lead.

The Cranston West doubles squad had no problem securing the victory, as the Falcons did not drop a set in any of the three matches. Cranston West defeats Lincoln 6-1 and finish the regular season at 12-2.

Cranston West has no blemishes on their record except two losses to league champion Smithfield and have had a terrific season. The Falcons have been fortunate to avoid any injuries and have kept the same lineup the entire season. A trio of slots finished 12-2 on the season with losses only to Smithfield, including First Singles, Fourth Singles, and First Doubles. 

Danielle Leonardo has been a huge performer for the Falcons this season in the Fourt Singles slot, stepping up from her doubles position from last season. Leonardo has been morphing her game into one that dictates play from one that exhibited a steady and consistent style, which has attributed to her success. 

The First doubles team of Bridget Wall and Amanda Carmody has been a huge lift for the Falcons squad, posting wins in all but two of their matches.

"Bridget Wall has made an immeasurable contribution to doubles. She's just super aggressive and plays a great all-around game," Cranston West Coach James Lucas said.

The Third Doubles team of Allessandra Portukulian and Danielle Dulieu, both seniors, has also provided a nice lift for Cranston West, showing the depth and developmental strength of the team.

"I have to give my assistant coach Nancy Hersey a lot of credit. She runs our JV program and sets up matches for them. And she works very hard with them, so when the come up they're ready to play. And we have to thank her a lot for the recent success of our program over the past several years," Lucas said.

Cranston West secured the second seed out of Division II North and will face off against Narragansett, the team that eliminated the Falcons last season, on Tuesday in the first round of the playoffs.

"We're looking forward to it. The kids are totally psyched. They're working hard and they've had a great season," Lucas said, speaking of Tuesday's playoff match.