Second-singles Eagle Maelah Nadeau upset her Thornton Academy opponent last Thursday, June 2, but the Trojans prevailed elsewhere on the court, taking a 4-1 win over Windham and bouncing them from the tournament.
“It was a tough matchup,” said Eagles head coach Jenna Willey, “but when you play tougher teams it makes you step up and play better. I saw the best tennis out of the Windham girls this season in our final playoff match.”
On either side of Nadeau, first-singles teammate Sarah Rich fell to Eva Sachs 4-6, 2-6, and third-singles teammate Sarah Webb fell to Andrea Kucharova 5-7, 2-6. But Nadeau herself trumped Grace Pickering, winning the first set handily at 6-2 and battling through a second-set tiebreaker, 7-6 (7-2).
“Our only win and greatest upset against TA was at second singles,” said an exuberant Willey. “Maelah defeated Grace Pickering, an undefeated player this season, in a second set tiebreaker. This was Maelah’s senior year and she ended on an unforgettable match. She fought hard against Pickering – who beat her in the regular season 4-6, 5-7 – and never gave up. Maelah truly left a legacy for WHS girls tennis on what it’s like to bring it to playoffs.”
In doubles action, Eagles Paige LaFerriere and Taylor Everett succumbed to Emma Nassif and Cordelia Perry, 4-6, 2-6, while Kiana Clark and Anna Cancelarich likewise fell to Pilar Salcedo and Claudia de la Hoz, 1-6, 3-6.
“We fell short in the other matches,” said Willey, “but it was fun to watch good tennis and see the girls reach their full potential. It was a great season and the girls did well ending it with a 9-5 record.”
Windham entered the playoffs ranked fifth in A South; they trumped Marshwood 5-0 in their prelims matchup on May 31, earning them a shot at No. 4 TA.
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Windham’s Taylor Everett volleys in her matchup.
Windham’s Maelah Nadeau captured her team’s only win at Thornton Academy on June 2.
Eagle Anna Cancelarich returns a ball in her doubles match at TA on June 2.
Paige LaFerriere returns a ball for Windham.
Windhamite Kiana Clark and her doubles mate Anna Cancelarich dropped their bout at Thornton on Thursday.
The Eagles’ Sarah Webb lunges for a shot in her team’s bout with Thornton Academy.
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