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05/17/2021 12:00 AMWith so many new players in the lineup, Head Coach Bob Migliorini wasn’t quite sure what to expect from the North Haven girls’ tennis team this year. Migliorini thought that North Haven might go through a rebuilding season, but instead, it’s just been a solid season all-around for a squad that has a record of 8-6 and is on its way to the Class M State Tournament.
After seeing the 2020 season get canceled, North Haven came into the 2021 campaign with just one returning starter from the last time the team took the court two years ago. Coach Migliorini said that North Haven has been bolstered by strong performances from a few brand-new players, along with some seniors who are making their varsity debuts, leading the team to a solid record in the face of a challenging schedule.
“Overall, I’ve been extremely satisfied with the season. It’s been a pleasant surprise in terms of how well we’ve done, because the last time we played was two years ago, and I didn’t know what to expect going into the season,” said Migliorini. “We’ve got some really good new players on the team, and some of the seniors have stepped up and played well and are having a significant impact. Whatever we are accomplishing is exceeding what my goals were. When you have a surprise season, that’s a good thing.”
A member of the SCC’s Division I ranks, North Haven has had to play two matches against each of its divisional opponents this spring. Coach Migliorini said this may be the toughest schedule the team has ever played during his tenure, but North Haven has stepped up to the challenge by notching several wins versus quality squads.
Two of North Haven’s biggest wins were 4-3 victories against Guilford and Cheshire that came on April 19 and 26, respectively. In last week’s action, North Haven had a rematch with Guilford and was edged out by a 4-3 score. Coach Migliorini’s team came back to get a 6-1 win over Sacred Heart Academy before taking a 4-3 loss to Lauralton Hall in its final match of the week.
Despite the two narrow defeats last week, Migliorini was pleased to see North Haven get a pair of exciting wins against two of the SCC’s top teams earlier in the season.
“It was extremely happy with our huge wins against Cheshire and Guilford,” Migliorini said. “Guilford is a strong team, and we weren’t expecting to beat them, but we squeaked out a 4-3 victory, and then did the same with Cheshire. That’s another strong program that we’ve tended to lose to, because we didn’t have enough depth. But this year, we have more of a balanced lineup with more depth and, because of that, we have been able to compete with some of the best teams in the league.”
Junior Ally Vollero is the only player on North Haven’s roster who came into the season with experience as a varsity starter. Vollero played No. 2 singles two years ago, but made the leap to No. 1 singles this season following the graduation of star player Julia Migliorini. Vollero is faring well at the top singles spot and currently has a record of 9-5 on the season.
“Ally is having a really good for us at 1st singles. She’s playing the best players on every team and is really meeting the challenge,” said Migliorini. “I think the biggest thing for Ally is that her mental game is better. She can pull things out in tight situations, and that is a sign of mental toughness.”
North Haven’s three other singles players are new to the roster. Junior Taylor Morris joined the team this year and is sporting a record of 11-3 at the No. 2 singles position. Sophomore Risa Tobin is another newcomer and has a mark of 9-5 playing No. 3 singles. Freshman Chandler Morris is competing out of the No. 4 spot and has a record of 8-6.
“Taylor has a pretty powerful game with how hard she hits the ball, and she’s consistent. She also has a great demeanor on the court and doesn’t get flustered,” Coach Migliorini said. “Risa is a real gritty player who runs the ball down and hustles all the time. She has a great attitude and is always looking for feedback to improve. Chandler is steady player who is having a good season for us. She had a really nice win when we beat Cheshire. She moves well and has good groundstrokes.”
North Haven’s doubles lineup features four seniors and two juniors who are all making key contributions in their first campaigns as varsity starters. Leading the way at No. 1 doubles is the tandem of senior captains Megan Kell and Nadia Kavgaci. Kell played a few varsity matches two years ago, but now she’s teaming up with Kavgaci at the No. 1 doubles spot, and the pairing has a record of 6-6 this year.
Coach Migliorini said that Kell and Kavgaci are doing a top-notch job of leading the team as captains, while displaying excellent chemistry on the doubles court.
“Megan and Nadia have done exceptionally well from a leadership standpoint. They are doing a super job as captains and are having a good season at No. 1 doubles,” said Migliorini. “Their leadership styles are similar in that they lead by example and serve as role models for the younger players on the team. They make a good team together. The enjoy being around each other, and that makes a difference when you’re playing.”
North Haven’s No. 2 doubles team features seniors Sophia DelVecchio and Kaitlyn Ha. DelVecchio and Ha have a record of 8-6 on the season, including a three-set victory in the deciding match when North Haven defeated Guilford earlier in the year.
Junior Zeena Mohamed and fellow junior Noelle Carmody are forming North Haven’s No. 3 doubles team. Mohamed and Carmody have played their way to a mark of 7-6 this spring.
“Sophia and Kaitlyn have improved tremendously over the course of the season, especially with their net play. They are much more aggressive at the net than earlier in the season and, because of that, they are a strong doubles team,” Coach Migliorini said. “Zeena and Noelle will both be back next year and will have the opportunity to step up and play No. 1 doubles. Zeena is a steady player with a nice net game, and Noelle has a good baseline game and has been working on improving her net game.”
Freshman Samantha Ide has also seen some varsity time for North Haven this season. Ide has been subbed into the doubles lineup on a couple of occasions.
In its most-recent stretch of matches, North Haven took on Guilford, Sacred Heart Academy, and Lauralton Hall last week. North Haven started off the week by taking a 4-3 road loss to Guilford on May 10. Vollero claimed a 6-2, 6-2 victory in the No. 1 singles match, while Taylor Morris rallied for a 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 win at No. 2 singles. No. 2 doubles team of DelVecchio and Ha also won a three-setter, taking their match by the final score of 6-3, 1-6, 6-4.
Two days later, North Haven notched a 6-1 road victory against Sacred Heart Academy at Hamden Middle School. Vollero (6-3, 6-2) and Taylor Morris (6-1, 6-0) won their matches at the top two singles spots. Tobin earned a 7-6, 6-2 victory at No. 3 singles.
North Haven won all three doubles matches. Kell and Kavgaci claimed a 7-6, 6-2 win at No. 1 doubles; DelVecchio and Ha netted another three-set victory by winning their No. 2 duel 6-4, 4-6, 6-2. Mohamed and Carmody posted a 6-1, 6-2 win at No. 3.
In its last match of the week, North Haven took a 4-3 home loss to Lauralton Hall on May 15. Taylor Morris earned a 6-2, 6-2 win at No. 2 singles; Tobin was a 6-0, 7-5 victor at No. 3 singles; and Chandler Morris prevailed by a 6-3, 6-2 score at No. 4 singles.
North Haven’s roster also includes seniors Gillian Benowitz, Jannat Butt, Alyssa Laborde, Sophia Raposo, and Merve Sariyildiz; juniors Zoey LoPresti, Ariana Stewart, and Scarlett Vogel; sophomore Samantha Adams; and freshmen Rachel Adams, Alyssa Cherian, Sonia Temfack, and Shen Wan.
Coach Migliorini’s assistant coach is his daughter Alyssa Migliorini, a North Haven girls’ tennis alum.
North Haven will finish its regular season by playing matches against Cheshire and Amity this week, after which the team will begin its postseason journey that will include an appearance in the Class M State Tournament.
Coach Migliorini said that it’s been a satisfying experience to see his team thriving on the court in 2021. Migliorini also feels encouraged that a large part of North Haven’s roster will be coming back next year with a full season of varsity tennis under its belt.
“It’s been a great season for us so far, and things are really looking positive for us next season with everyone that we are bringing back,” said Migliorini. “It’s a really good group of hardworking and dedicated players.”