This is a printer-friendly version of an article from Zip06.com.
05/15/2016 12:00 AMHead Coach Don Hurley feels happy about the way things are unfolding for the North Haven boys’ tennis team this spring. The Indians own a record of 8-7, have clinched a berth in the SCC Division II Tournament, and need to win one of their last two regular season contests to qualify for the Class L State Championship. However, Hurley’s satisfaction extends beyond the fact that North Haven has a good chance to return to both postseason brackets. The coach is equally pleased that his athletes are working hard as a cohesive group and enjoying themselves while seeing success on the court.
“The work ethic is fantastic. Even if it starts to rain, they don’t want to stop practice. They work well together, listen to instruction, and take constructive guidance all the time,” said Hurley. “The aura of this team is that they’re a happy team that’s having the time of their lives playing tennis at North Haven.”
North Haven played four matches last week and recorded a pair of victories. The Indians posted a 7-0 triumph at Cross on May 9 and then defeated Career 5-2 at home on May 11 for their fifth-consecutive win. North Haven closed the week by taking a 4-3 defeat at Hamden on May 12 and a 4-3 loss in East Haven on May 14.
Against Cross, junior captain Johaness Eisenberg earned a 7-5, 6-2 victory at No. 1 singles; freshman Nicholas Cristante prevailed 6-0, 6-1 at No. 2; junior Billy Sgro was a 6-1, 6-2 winner at No. 3 singles; and freshman Max Petruziello won 6-0, 6-0 at No. 4. In doubles, the No. 1 pairing of junior Jack Steinman and senior captain Liam Sorge won 6-0, 6-1; the No. 2 duo of sophomores Riley Powell and Matt Carroll won 6-0, 6-0; and the No. 3 team of freshman Quinn Dallai and sophomore Santino Shahrabi netted a 6-2, 6-4 victory.
Facing Career, Cristante won 6-3, 6-4 at No. 3 singles, while Petruzziello won 7-6 (7-5), 7-6 (7-4) at No. 4. All three doubles teams prevailed in straight sets.
In the Hamden matchup, Cristante netted a 6-3, 6-3 victory at third singles, Sorge and Steinman won 6-1, 6-4 at No. 1 doubles, and Carroll and Powell earned a 6-2, 6-0 win at No. 2.
Versus East Haven, Steinman played No. 2 singles and won the second set in a tiebreaker before ultimately winning a 4-6, 7-6 (7-5), 6-2 decision. Carroll and Powell were penciled into the top doubles slot and won via forfeit. At second doubles, Gagliardi and Petruzziello joined up and won 2-6, 6-4, 10-8.
Coach Hurley said that a great deal of his squad’s success stems from the solid play of his three doubles tandems. Steinman and Sorge, who mwade the All-SCC Division II Team last spring, have a record of 10-2 at the top spot this year. Carroll and Powell are 11-3 at the No. 2 position, while Sgro and Gagliardi own a mark of 4-3 as the No. 3 pairing.
“Jack and Liam are tremendously better than last year. I look for them to go deep into the State Tournament. Their individual skills have picked up. Jack is probably hitting serves over 100 miles per hour and Liam is doing just as well on his serves. They’re like cats with their movement on the court. They both cover so much of the court,” Coach Hurley said. “Matt and Riley play so well as a team. They know where each other will be on the court and they attack the net. They’re a formidable No. 2 doubles team and have been instrumental in the record we have. Billy and Mike picked up tennis their freshman years and both have progressed and developed some good tennis skills. They’ve picked up a sport that they can enjoy for the rest of their lives.”
Moving to the singles side of the court, the Indians’ biggest standout has been Cristante, who’s burst onto the scene by sporting a mark of 8-6, while primarily playing the No. 3 and 4 positions. Hurley said that Cristante’s biggest win helped spur his team’s biggest victory when the Indians edged Shelton 4-3 on May 6. All three doubles teams also won that day.
“Nick has competed very successfully at the varsity level and I look forward to him doing even better in the following three years. It’s a joy to have him on the team,” Hurley said. “Shelton is a very good team and that was a pivotal win. Nick was on the court for two hours and won a match that gave the doubles teams a lift.”
In terms of North Haven’s other singles players, Eisenberg is competing at the No. 1 spot, senior Giovanni Petruzziello has played a lot at No. 2, Max Petruzziello is holding down the No. 4 position, and sophomore Ryan Griffiths has competed at various slots throughout the lineup.