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05/19/2018 12:00 AMThe Hand girls’ tennis team finished last year with an unblemished record and a pair of championships in its grasp. The Tigers are looking to double down on that achievement this spring, and they’ve picked up right where they’ve left off by putting together another undefeated regular season.
Head Coach Kitty Palmer’s squad had a campaign for the ages in 2017, when the Tigers went 15-0 for the regular season, defeated Amity to win their seventh SCC Tournament title, and then posted a 5-2 victory over Guilford to take the Class M state title and finish with a record of 22-0.
Hand, which moved up to the Class L this spring, recently earned a 7-0 win over Lauralton Hall on May 14 and then swept Cheshire by that same score four days later to finish the 2018 regular season at 17-0. The Tigers have earned the top seed in the SCC Tournament, which is being played this week.
Coach Palmer noted that a trio of pivotal victories over two local rivals set a winning tone for a Tigers’ team that features 14 athletes who constantly give their all.
“We started the year with a win over Amity, which is usually a barometer match for us to see where we are. And then we beat Guilford back to back in two matches, and those wins gave the girls the confidence that they could succeed,” said Palmer. “We have our work cut out for us in the SCC and Class L with tough competition, but we have 14 really good athletes that have performed day in and day out.”
Looking at Hand’s singles lineup, sophomore Sam Riordan has made the transition to the solo circuit and is competing at the No. 1 position for the Tigers. Riordan’s sister, freshman Lindsay Riordan, is playing the No. 2 singles position. Sophomore Anne Barrett returns to singles as the No. 3, and senior Ellen Weinstein is holding things down for Hand at the No. 4 spot.
“Sam has only lost two matches, and one of them was to [North Haven’s] Julia Migliorini, who is the best player in the league. The sky’s the limit for her,” said Palmer. “Lindsay has been solid, as has Anne and Ellen.”
Hand’s senior captains are Nelle Karas and Nikki Goldfeder, who also team up at the No. 2 doubles position. The tandem was promoted from playing the No. 3 spot last year, and Coach Palmer said that both athletes are stepping up in more ways than one this season.
“I knew going in it wouldn’t be easy moving up a spot, but they’ve done a terrific job. They’ve been great leaders on and off the court,” Palmer said. “They’ve kept the team together and done a great job of making everyone is included. They always keep the team upbeat, as well.”
Hand features more depth in doubles with the No. 1 pairing of senior Lee Jiaen and sophomore Anna Lang. The Tigers’ No. 3 duo of senior Jen Burris and junior Clare Nelson is new to the doubles lineup, while freshman Eileen Chen has also seen some time at that spot.
“Lee was happy to do whatever to help the team, so I moved her to doubles with Anna, and they’ve been really successful,” said Palmer. “Clare and Jen are new, but they’ve fit right in and been a dependable team. Eileen played at No. 3 doubles in the second Guilford match and was successful there.”
In last week’s wins versus Lauralton Hall and Cheshire, Hand received multiple singles victories from the Riordan sisters, Barrett, and Weinstein, along with Jiaen, Lang, Karas, Goldfeder, Burris, Nelson, and Chen on the doubles court.
The Tigers will have to traverse through a deep pool of adversaries in order to repeat as SCC champs and then take home another state crown. However, Coach Palmer feels confident that Hand has the talent and experience to make 2018 another year to remember in Madison.
“The pressure will be on us for SCCs, because we had a great year last year and so far this season. Amity, Guilford, and Lauralton Hall are always tough. Anyone can beat anyone on any given day,” said Palmer. “We have to contend with many quality teams in Class L, so we will see where we are at. We have a solid lineup. It’s just a question of if we lose a few matchups if we have the depth to win a match 4-3.”
• Kitty Palmer is in her 18th season as Hand’s head coach.
• Of the Tigers’ 17 victories this year, 11 of them have come by either a 7-0 or 6-1 final.
• Hand’s last defeat came when the Tigers dropped a 5-2 decision against Lauralton Hall in the 2016 Class M State Tournament final.