The Bromfield girls tennis team lost 1–4 on Monday, June 6, at Grafton, after a long undefeated journey to the semifinals. But against slightly superior players at each position and a stronger team overall, Bromfield was unable to move on to the Central Mass. Division 3 final against Hopedale.
Second doubles player Sophia MacLean returns a serve.
(Photos by Lisa Aciukewicz)
Isabelle Quinn plays first doubles.
Grafton was a good team, one that after beating Bromfield in the regular season, remained undefeated (18–0) as it moved to the finals. There was a change in Bromfield’s lineup as third singles senior Allie Wei was unable to attend and was replaced by junior Joanna Young, who did not have as much experience playing singles. In addition, first doubles player Ariel Jones-Mollod hurt her ankle in the previous match against Quaboag, and she was not in top condition. All three singles matches were lost, and only second doubles managed to win after playing a third set.
First singles junior Lisa Jorgensen, who has managed to pull through many difficult situations and make comebacks in previous matches, had a match of very high quality with well-played points. Her opponent had a very fast cross-court forehand shot that was difficult to return, which helped her to win the first set. Jorgensen had a bit of an edge for a while in the second set, but her opponent picked up her play toward the end of the second set and regained control of the match.
Second singles sophomore Sarah Moore also played a close match, but against an experienced opponent who managed to return her most skilled full-court shots, with the match ending 2–6, 3–6. Moore also had difficulty getting some balls at the net. Young played a very competitive first set with her opponent before tiring a bit late in the second set, ending it 4–6, 2–6. First doubles was delayed for lack of a free court, and by the time they began, Bromfield had already lost all three singles and the match. Jones-Mollod’s ankle had a significant effect on her play, and the other small differences in strength caused them to lose 3–6, 3–6.
Second doubles gave Bromfield its only point in the match. It was a close contest. Neither side was ahead by many games in any three of the sets. Freshman Alex O’Neil and sophomore Sophia MacLean played well as a team and converted just enough points to turn the tide on their opponents after a tight first set that didn’t go their way. O’Neil was a dominant player for most of the match, but the turning point came when MacLean started moving well and kept the ball in play. When the point was extended, Bromfield benefited.
A victory in quarterfinals
In the Quaboag match on Thursday, June 2, Bromfield won 4–1 and moved onto semifinals with Grafton. Bromfield, the fifth-seeded team in the girls Division 3 Central Mass. district, played Quaboag, the fourth-seeded team in the quarterfinals of the tournament. Quaboag, from results earlier in the year, seemed to be strongest at second singles, third singles, and first doubles. Bromfield won two out of three of those matches, which enabled the girls to win the overall match.
Junior Joanna Young plays third singles against Grafton.
Jorgensen got off to a slow start as she was still struggling with a recent shoulder injury, but she recovered and ended up winning the last 11 games of the match after having been down 2–5 in the first set. The first doubles match was the closest match of the day. Jones-Mollod and Quinn played well, but the Quaboag first doubles girls were quite good at the net, and even though the Bromfield girls also played well at the net, that seemed to be the difference in the match. Overall, it was a good win for the team against a quality opponent that Bromfield had not played previously, and under the pressure of the district tournament.
Overall, it was a very good year for the team. The Bromfield girls finished the regular season 13–5, topped the Mid-Wachusett C League with an undefeated 12–0 league record, and made it to the Central Mass. Division 3 semifinals. Next year, senior Allie Wei will be missed, but the rest of the team looks healthy and bursting with potential.
Bromfield versus Quaboag
- 1st singles: Lisa Jorgensen, Bromfield, def. Erica Schlosstein, Quaboag, 7–5, 6–0.
- 2nd singles: Sarah Moore, Bromfield, def. Shelby Tytula, Quaboag, 6–2, 6–2.
- 3rd singles: Allie Wei, Bromfield, def. Comfort Smythe, Quaboag, 7–6, 6–1.
- 1st doubles: Emily Floury, Emily Bouchard, Quaboag, def. Ariel Jones-Mollod, Isabelle Quinn, Bromfield, 6–4, 4–6, 8–10.
- 2nd doubles: Alex O’Neil, Sophia MacLean, Bromfield, def. Alyssa Bettencourt, Isabelle Greenlaw, Quaboag, 6–4, 6–3.
Bromfield versus Grafton
- 1st singles: Grafton def. Lisa Jorgensen, Bromfield, 3–6, 4–6.
- 2nd singles: Katie Mason, Grafton, def. Sarah Moore, Bromfield, 2–6, 3–6.
- 3rd singles: Grafton def. Joanna Young, Bromfield, 4–6, 2–6.
- 1st doubles: Grafton def. Ariel Jones-Mollod, Isabelle Quinn, Bromfield, 3–6, 3–6.
- 2nd doubles: Alex O’Neil, Sophia MacLean, Bromfield, def. Grafton, 5–7, 6–4, 6–4.
Ivy Wang is a Bromfield sophomore.
