Lenox Advances to Western Mass Final
LENOX, Mass. – The new-look Lenox girls tennis team is back in a familiar spot: playing for a Western Massachusetts Championship.
Katie Shove and Caroline Kump earned singles wins, and the Millionaires swept the doubles points on Wednesday to earn a 4-1 win over Palmer in the Class C regional semi-finals.
Second-seeded Lenox now awaits the winner of Wednesday’s semi-final between Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion Charter and Hampden Charter.
The Millionaires (13-1) earned the right to go for a third straight title in a year when they had to rebuild their lineup from a team that went to the state tournament’s Round of 16 last June.
“Not only did we lose two seniors last year, but we also lost our No. 1 singles player, Rory [Lenehan], who moved and the player who was expected to be our No. 2 singles player this year, Charlie [Keator], who was injured most of last year and then didn’t come back.
“So it was kind of a shocker at first, because we lost four very strong girls. But these girls are making me super proud, especially since they’re so young.”
Sophomore Kump, who played doubles on last year’s squad, made quick work of her opponent on Tuesday, winning 6-0, 6-0.
She then had a front-row seat to cheer on her teammates.
“It’s good to be off court and be able to help around with the other courts and just watch the girls,” Kump said.
She was right there leading the celebration when Lauren Romano and Brooklyn Becker put away their 6-4, 6-3 win at second doubles to give Lenox the third point and secure the team win.
“It was super tight, and it was just – it’s awesome,” Kump said. “I love these girls, and it’s great to see them succeeding on the courts.”
She also got to see Reeva Patel and Julia Zanin cruise to a 6-0, 6-0 win at first doubles.
Big galleries from both teams were on hand to see the first and third singles matches go to tie-breaks.
Both Shove and Caity Giardina bounced back from first-set losses to even their matches, which were decided in a first-to-10 tie-breaker since the team competition already was decided.
Giardina battled against Palmer’s Mariia Kompaniiets before succumbing, 14-12, to give the Panthers their point.
Shove carried the momentum from her second set win into the tie-break to jump out to a big lead and went on to a 10-4 win
“Most of my shots were going long [in the first set], so I was looking more for the angle than going short, and I hit a few good ones,” Shove said of her comeback. “I just recently got my slice really good, but usually it is a big part of my game this season.”
Herman was not surprised to see Shove and Giardina fight back in their matches.
“They were really digging in, both of them,” Herman said. “Katie Shove has a lot of experience digging in. Caity G’s new to the game, for sure. She was only a backup player this year. And she started out as a backup singles player, and now she’s played half of the singles matches.
“She’s a total fighter, and she doesn’t let her feathers get too ruffled. Especially for an eighth-grader, she’s very even-keeled, which makes her a really good singles player.”
Singles
No. 1 Katie Shove, L, def, Gianna Perry, 3-6, 6-4, 1-0 (10-4).
No. 2 Caroline Kump, L, def. Sofia Braskie, 6-0, 6-0.
No. 3 Mariia Kompaniiets, P, def. Caity Giardina, 6-4, 5-7, 1-0 (14-12).
Doubles
No. 1 Reeva Patel/Julia Zanin, L, def. Arian Mossier/Amelia Perry, 6-0, 6-0.
No. 2 Lauren Romano/Brooklyn Butler, L, def. Katie Mendrala/Maddy Roy, 6-4, 6-3.