Item Roundup:

Classical's Saska Icitovic plays against English at the Breed courts Wednesday afternoon. (ITEM PHOTO / REBA M. SALDANHA)

 Classical girls edge English

By Erik Johnson / For The Item

Classical's girls tennis team inched out a win against cross-town rival English, 3-2, to close out a very successful regular season.

"Anytime you can beat English in any kind of match it's going to be back-and-forth," Rams coach Tom Clark said.

The Rams (10-8) swept the doubles play, with both matches in straight sets: Sheba Neak and Amanda Pearson, first, 6-0, 6-3; and Tara Gunderman and Nanouma Joachim, second, 6-1, 6-3.

Saska Icitovic won in first singles: 6-1, 6-4.

Beverly 5, Classical 0

At Lynn, Sheba Neak and Stella Athanasopoulos put together a valiant effort in first doubles for the Rams (9-8), but lost to Liz Zarkades and Hannah Robinson, 2-6, 7-5, 3-6.
 

 

Classical's Amy O'Brien won the deciding match in the Rams' victory over Beverly Friday at Beverly. (ITEM FILE PHOTO)

 Classical Girls Clinch Tourney Berth !

 

By Matthew Roy / For The Item

The Lynn Classical girls tennis team will be a state tournament participant for only the second time in the program's history following a dramatic 3-2 win at Beverly on Friday.

"We feel especially privileged to come out with a win against a team like them," Classical coach Tom Clark said. "I was a little surprised, to be honest, that it came against Beverly cause they are such a good team."

The Panthers and Rams milked every bit of drama out of this one as the teams were tied at 2-2 with just the second singles match left on court. It took a while but Amy O'Brien got the job done for Classical, winning 7-6 (5), 6-4 to seal the match.

"Amy showed great composure to come back in that match," Clark said. "All the girls showed up ready to play."

Amanda Pearson claimed a 6-3, 6-3 win at third singles and Nanouma Joachin-Tara Gunderman won 6-0, 6-4 in second doubles to account for the other Classical (9-7)

"We've been fighting hard all year so it's great to finally get that win that does it," Clark said.

Classical 5, Salem 0

At Salem, the Rams (8-7) are one win away from qualifying for the state tournament and they have three chances to get it (2 matches against Beverly and one vs. English). Saska Icitovic won at first singles, 6-0, 6-1; Amy O'Brien, second singles, 6-0, 6-0; Amanda Pearson, third singles, 6-2, 6-0; Sheba Neak-Stella Athanasopoulos, first doubles, 7-5, 6-2, and Nanouma Joachim-Tara Gunderman, second doubles, 6-3, 6-2.
 

Revere 3, Classical 2

At Breed, the Patriots (5-6) had wins at second and third singles from Victoria Mauro (6-4, 6-4) and Yvonne Rincon (6-3, 6-4, respectively. Jennifer Kingston-Donna Le won at first doubles, 1-6, 6-4, 6-2.

Classical's Saska Icitovic won at first singles, 6-2, 6-2, and Nanouma Joachin-Tara Gunderman at second doubles, 6-1, 6-0. The Rams are 7-7.
 

Peabody 5, Classical 0

At Peabody, the Tanners moved to 10-2. Winners were Alaina Warren (6-1, 6-0), Emily Athas (6-0, 6-1), Sarah Athas (6-1, 6-0), Kerrianne O'Brien-Kayli Lohman (6-1, 6-1) and Erica Reeves-Erin Korslund (6-2, 6-0).

Danvers 4, Classical 0

At Danvers, the Rams returned to Danvers to finish a rain-shortened match from Monday. Sheba Neak and Stella Athanasopoulos played well at second doubles. The Rams are 4-3.

Marblehead 5, Classical 0

At Lynn, Julia Zaltzman won at third singles, 6-0, 6-0 for the Magicians (6-1). Marblehead also had wins from Julia Burke 6-4, 6-3, first singles; Mary Lindsay Ryan 6-2, 6-2, second singles; Annie Ryan-Lindsey Cohen, 6-0, 6-1, first doubles, and Morgan Sharrio-Meghan Gabel 6-2, 6-0, second doubles.

Classical 3, English 2

In the girls match, the Rams (4-1) won 3-2. Classical's Saska Icitovic defeated Anjeza Beharaj, 6-2, 6-4, at first singles; teammate Amy O'Brien defeated Alise Rittershaus, 6-3, 3-6, 7-5, in the two spot and Sheba Neak-Stella Athanasopoulos stopped Daniella Krische-Scarlett Santana, 6-2, 1-6, 6-4, at first doubles.

English's Tranh Bui defeated Amanda Pearson, 2-6, 6-2, 6-3, at third singles and Sarah Cowdell-Dina Robles stopped Tara Gunderman-Ashley Ellis at second doubles, 2-6, 7-5, 7-6.
 

Classical 3, Revere 2

The Classical girls tennis team evened its record at 2-2 with a 3-2 win over Revere Wednesday at Winchester Tennis Club.

The match came down to first singles, where Classical's Saska Icitovic outlasted Revere's Elma Meskovic, 7-6 (7-3), 0-6, 7-5, in a three-hour match. Amy O'Brien won at second singles for the Rams, 6-3, 6-4, and Tara Gunderman and Ashley Ellis pulled out their match at second doubles, 6-4, 6-2. Revere had wins from Yvonne Rincon at third singles, 6-0, 7-5, and at first doubles by Jennifer Kingston and Donna Le, 7-6, 6-2.

Peabody 5, Classical 0

At Breed, the Rams got a solid effort from third singles player Amanda Pearson, a junior captain, in a 7-5, 6-1 loss to the Tanners' Sarah Athis.

"They played back and forth the entire game," Rams (1-1, 0-1 NEC) coach Tom Clark said. "Their third singles player seemed pretty skilled. (Pearson) is getting better and better as the season goes by. She's come a long way."

The Tanners' other wins came from: Alaina Warren, first singles, 6-1, 6-1; Emily Athis, second singles, 6-1, 6-0; Sam Syska-Kayli Lohman, first doubles, 6-1, 6-1; and Kerianne O'Brien-Michelle McCarthy, second doubles, 6-2, 6-2.

Girls Tennis Team Aces Somerville