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06/14/2021 12:00 AMThe Valley Regional girls’ tennis team had a surprisingly strong season with a roster just large enough to fill out a complete singles and doubles ladder. The Warriors only returned two players that had previous varsity experience, and had eight players who got their first taste of competitive tennis this campaign.
Head Coach Sally Riggio’s squad posted an overall record of 11-6, which included a win in the Class M State Tournament.
Coach Riggio couldn’t have been prouder of Valley’s season as a whole. Regardless of the Warriors finishing with a solid record, Riggio was encouraged to see her athletes be a constant source of support to one another.
“This season definitely exceeded my expectations with only two returning players and eight new players. Overall, we had a really young team. The girls did a phenomenal job absorbing strategies and concepts,” said Riggio. “They were all so connected and supportive of each other. They are all individually talented from an athletic stand point, but their connection is really inspiring.
“In high school, you don’t always see girls supporting girls,” she added. “These were all different girls coming from different groups of friends coming together and enjoying each other’s company. It was a such a great combination.”
One of the chief reasons for that connection was All-Shoreline Conference Second Team senior captain and No. 2 singles player Alex Halsey. Halsey earned Valley’s Warrior Award and posted an 11-3 record on the season.
“Alex Halsey deserves a lot of credit for connecting these girls. She went above and beyond to include all the girls and encourage and connect with them outside of practice,” said Riggio. “She was a phenomenal role model off the court.”
Fellow senior captain Ada Ramos also had a major impact on the Warriors season, as well. Ramos posted a record of 13-2 at the No. 1 singles position and was a finalist in the Shoreline Conference No. 1 and No. 2 Tournament, which also earned her All-Shoreline Conference First Team accolades. Ramos also earned Valley’s Most Valuable Player award.
“Ada was also a great role model on the court,” Riggio said. “She really set the stage for what this team was and what it could be. Both she and Alex offered new teammates a warm welcome, wisdom, and encouragement.”
The Warriors had some solid performances from the lower half of the singles ladder in sophomore Olivia Baldwin at the No. 3 position and freshman Joanna Petrone at the No. 4 spot. Baldwin advanced to the finals of the Shoreline Conference No. 3 and No. 4 Tournament and earned All-Shoreline Conference First Team honors, while Petrone made it to the semifinals of the bracket and earned All-Shoreline Conference Second Team recognition.
“The No. 3 and No. 4 singles performance in the Shoreline Tournament didn’t surprise me,” Riggio said. Both of them had only lost one match all year, and that’s including states. They have been formidable all season long.”
As for doubles, freshmen No. 1 tandem Hannah Schwartzman (5-6) and Natalie Novak (6-9) impressed with little experience, and No. 2 duo of freshman Clara Shea (8-7) and sophomore Samara Shankar (8-7) cut their teeth in the competitive environment this year as well. Novak garnered team recognition for her mature conduct on the court with the Sportsmanship Award. At No. 3 doubles was junior Maddie McCuin and sophomore Ashley Cap who both earned the Warriors’ most improved award.
Perhaps one of the more impressive moments of the year was the Warriors’ loss against Jonathan Law in states. The No. 15 seed Warriors needed to beat No. 18 Suffield in the play-in round to even have a chance to face Law in the first round. Even though Valley lost that first-round contest, Coach Riggio thought the margin by which the Warriors were defeated (4-2) was impressive against such a high seed.
“We lost to the No. 2 seed Law, and that was a close match that could have gone either way,” said Riggio. “Overall, I am thrilled with everyone. They all showed up every day and put their best foot forward for themselves and their teammates. That usually takes years to develop, and for us, it only took weeks.”
In the end, Coach Riggio believed that this group of student-athletes helped her reconnect with why she got into coaching tennis in the first place.
“I had forgotten the amount of joy that being a coach on the court meant to me. It really feeds my soul. I am so privileged to be with these girls and encourage them, support them, and hopefully teach them some tennis along the way,” Riggio said. “I forgot how much it enhanced my life. I try to be a good supportive role model for my players, as a friend and as an adult. I think they have a tremendous amount to offer, and they don’t get the chance they deserve, especially with all the academic, athletic, and other extra curricular responsibilities and activities they need to get into college.”