Deerfield’s Varsity Girls Tennis celebrated the team’s seniors on Wednesday as the squad took on visiting Northfield Mount Hermon. It was clear from the start that this would be the most competitive meeting between these two teams in recent memory.
NMH won the third doubles match 8-4 in a back and forth contest with Deerfield’s Nainika Lebaka and Katherine Margulis. Veteran duo, Avery Brooker and Natalia Sanders took care of business at one doubles, winning 8-0. Second doubles delivered the most drama of the day. Linnea Dreslin and Giorgia Santore played from behind for much of the match, always nipping at NMH’s heels. These soon-to-be graduates dug in when they needed it and evened the match at 7-7. Dreslin and Santore found a new gear in the tiebreak and earned a decisive win. Linnea punctuated this with a beautiful slice winner on match point.
Cami Cushman played a tight and entertaining match at five singles, ultimately dropping a third set tie break. Jing Wang earned a steady victory at six singles along with captain, Natalia Sanders, at one singles, to put Deerfield up 4-1. Kate MacKenzie would clinch this tight match for Deerfield with a big win at the fourth singles spot.
The team climbs one win above .500 with a single regular season match remaining. Deerfield will travel to Choate on Saturday.
Individual Results:
Doubles:
- Sanders/Brooker: 8-0
- Santore/ Dreslin: 7-7 (7-3)
- Lebaka/Margulis: 4-8
Order of Finish: 1, 3, 2
Singles:
- Natalia Sanders: 6-3, 6-1
- Avery Brooker: 2-6, 3-6
- Linnea Dreslin: 1-6, 3-6
- Kate MacKenzie: 6-0, 6-1
- Camilla Cushman: 6-1, 0-6, 7-10
- Jing Wang: 6-2, 4-0 (retired)
Order of Finish: 6, 4, 1, 3, 5, 2