Friday’s tennis roundup: Duxbury dances into Division 2 semifinals for first time since 1993

With partner Seneca Sapia serving to clinch their first doubles match Friday, Duxbury girls’ tennis captain Valentina Torres glanced over and saw teammate Anna Manganello finish the job at third singles (6-1, 6-3).

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Sophia Smith’s first-singles point was already cemented (6-2, 6-4), so Torres knew she and Sapia had a chance to make history. Torres hit a backhand volley that clinched a 6-2, 6-4 victory over Longmeadow, and they jumped into each other’s arms to celebrate the program’s first trip to the state semifinals since 1993.

Freshman Ella Towse finished off a 6-3, 6-1 triumph at second doubles to secure a 4-1 win over the two-time defending Division 2 state champions at Duxbury High. The No. 3 Dragons (19-2), fresh off three straight seasons of quarterfinal heartbreak, broke through in convincing fashion.

“It feels great to be in the final four,” Sapia said. “It feels great to be a senior doing it. It feels great to be leading it. It feels great to be leading this awesome team.”

Margarita Berezovskaya Magee and Anaya Mohani prevailed, 6-1, 6-2, at second doubles for the No. 11 Lancers (17-4).

Longmeadow coach Michael Framarin said Duxbury was the better team and credited his seniors for strengthening the culture of the program.

“Before these seniors arrived four years ago, Longmeadow was not a state power,” Framarin said. “We were a regional power in our part of the state. These seniors left with two state championships and put Longmeadow on the map statewide. That will be their legacy for our program.”

But on this day, the Dragons had too much consistency and creativity. Smith picked her spots well, Towse kept her opponent guessing, and Manganello combined power and poise. Torres and Sapia stayed steady in the clutch, and Grey Metzler and Nora Donahue battled at second doubles.

Earlier this season, the Dragons wrote “FTL” on their wrists “For The League.” Once that milestone was complete, they put “T [cubed]” to signify “To The Top.”

Now, they’re two wins away, with No. 2 Bedford up next in the semifinals.

“I’m proud of the girls,” said first-year Duxbury coach Jackie Dinneen. “They’ve worked hard. I’ve worked them hard, from the beginning of the season onward, and all the running, all the improvements, 10 percent every week, it really came together. They showed it on the courts today, which is incredible.”

Notre Dame (Hingham) 5, Scituate 0 — Sophia Lirio (6-0, 6-0), Julia Walsh (6-2, 6-2), and Skye Bunge (6-1, 6-0) had their way at first, second, and third singles, respectively, as the No. 1 Cougars (17-1) rolled past No. 8 Scituate (16-4) in a quarterfinal clash. Clara Healey/Vivienne LaGrassa triumphed, 6-2, 6-3, at first doubles, and Caroline Kessler/Christi Schwatz cruised, 6-1, 6-1, at second doubles.

Division 3

Martha’s Vineyard 4, Wilmington 1 — Charlotte Marshard (7-5, 6-0) earned a straight-set win at second singles, and Josie Johns (6-3, 6-3) emerged victorious at third singles to lead the No. 1 Vineyarders (19-0) past No. 8 Wilmington (11-9) in a quarterfinal match. Leah Thomson/Zoe Treitman (6-2, 6-4) prevailed at first doubles, and Tessa Schultz/Bella Schilling (6-3, 6-3) triumphed at second doubles.

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Division 4

Hamilton-Wenham 4, Hopedale 1 — Gabrielle Jewett and Madeline Fennell teamed up for a 6-1, 6-1 win at first doubles and the duo of Evelyn Esdaile and Sofie Greene swept at No. 2 for the top-seeded Generals (16-2) in the quarterfinal win over No. 8 Hopedale (15-4). Charlotte Ireland won at third singles (6-2, 7-5) to secure the first point for H-W and Krishna Guruju got the winning point at second singles, 6-4, 5-7, 7-5. The Generals, headed to the semis for the fifth consecutive year, will face No. 5 Bromfield (11-6).

Manchester Essex 5, Lenox 0 — Sarah Cort swept at first singles, Grace Scarbrough won, 6-2, 6-2 at No. 2, and Ellen Gilson won, 6-2, 6-2 at third singles for the second-seeded Hornets (18-2) in the quarterfinals. Maeve McArdle/Lila Braier won, 6-2, 6-4 in first doubles. At second doubles, Sophia Eagan and Annie Kent won a marathon match, 6-2, 4-6, 10-3 against No. 10 Lenox (18-1).

Division 1

Newton North 4, Lincoln-Sudbury 1 — Johnny Wastcoat (first singles) led the No. 4 Tigers (17-2) to a quarterfinal win against No. 5 Lincoln-Sudbury (14-3) with a 6-2, 6-4 victory at first singles. Collin Hwang (second singles) triumphed, 6-2, 6-2, Alex Fine (third singles) earned a 6-4, 6-0 win, and Warren Feldman/Nikita Lutskiy (first doubles) prevailed, 6-2, 6-2.

Newton South 3, St. John’s Prep 2 — In the deciding match, the senior second doubles duo of Ezra Levy and Akshay Susana-Dudani remained calm and pulled out a 1-6, 6-3, 6-4 victory to lift the No. 6 Lions (16-4) in the quarterfinals against two-time defending champion St. John’s Prep (16-3).

“It was a pretty dramatic scene at the end,” said South coach Matt Timmins. “Tied at 4-4, they got the break, and Akshay served it out for the match. It was awesome … we felt like a million bucks.”

The Lions’ first win of the afternoon came from freshman Graham Horine, who made quick work at third singles, winning 6-1, 6-2. Ben Hong and Neal Zota earned the team’s second victory, coming from behind to win 5-7, 6-3, 6-4 at first doubles, and setting up Levy and Susana-Dudani to close the deal.

“In order to be the best, you have to beat the best. That was our mind-set going in, and we felt very confident despite being the lower seed.”

Division 2

Westborough 4, Hingham 1 —Senior captain Sushant Santhosh calls the Rangers “one big happy family.”

On Friday, that family was firing on all cylinders. The top-seeded Rangers (15-4) are once again headed to the semifinals after defeating No. 8 Hingham (17-3). Zach Forjette (6-0, 6-0) and Darsh Mayak (6-2, 6-0) won at No.2 and No.3 singles, respectively, while both Westborough doubles teams emerged victorious.

“We really are really good friends,” said Forjette, a junior captain. “I think that’s what distinguishes us from different teams. One thing I think is true for everybody on the team is that the highlight of our day – maybe some of the highlights of our weeks – is being here on these courts.

“Win or lose, I’m happiest when I’m right here.”

Division 4

Manchester Essex 4, Mt. Greylock 1 — Alex Montaresi set the tone with a 6-3, 6-1 victory at first singles to pace the No. 5 Hornets (10-8) in the quarterfinal win against No. 4 Mount Greylock. Peter Langendorf (6-1, 6-4) rolled at second singles, Freddy Jakes (6-0, 6-0) dominated at No. 3, and Luke Pilaude/Ben Tobin triumphed, 6-1, 6-2, at second doubles.

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Evan Walsh reported from Westborough.