Gazette All-Stars: Girls tennis: Continued excellence on the court
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The Daily Hampshire Gazette spring all-star series kicks off with arguably the most dominant group in area sports: Girls tennis.
It was a banner year for the Amherst Regional team, which won the Western Massachusetts Division 1 Tournament championship and reached the state finals match.
The Hurricanes were led by junior standout Maya Hart, who won her third straight WMass individual tournament title and then won the state individual title.
But the Amherst squad was much more than its No. 1 singles player. The Hurricanes boasted a tremendous group of fellow singles players in No. 2 Nicole McCann, a freshman, and No. 3 Juliana Gensheimer, a senior.
McCann, who spent time at the No. 1 spot when Hart was out of the lineup, exploded onto the scene and established herself as the heir apparent in WMass tennis when she reached the sectional individual finals to square off with Hart.
Gensheimer, meanwhile, was the clutch senior who posted match-winning victories in both the WMass team finals against Longmeadow and the state semifinals against Wachusett.
All three singles players and first doubles player Caroline Mabee, who had a terrific season with two different partners, are honored as first-team selections.
Meanwhile, Alli Carnall of Frontier Regional capped a brilliant career with a 17-0 senior season during which she never dropped a set. She will play at Providence College next year.
South Hadley juniors Abby Foster and Hannah Pancione round out the group. The duo enjoyed a standout season as the Tigers' No. 1 doubles pair, posting a 14-8 record and reaching the WMass individual tournament semifinals.
MAYA HART (Amherst Regional) - The top-seeded junior won the Western Massachusetts individual tournament for the third consecutive year defeating fellow Hurricane Nicole McCann, 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 in the finals. Went on to win the state individual championship beating Foxboro's Alana Prinos, 6-2, 2-6, 6-2. Hart went undefeated in Western Massachusetts (14-1 overall) with her lone loss coming in the first singles match of the team state finals to Westford Academy's Caitlyn Paltsios, 2-6, 6-4, 6-4. A three-time Gazette first-team selection.
ALLI CARNALL (Frontier Regional) - The senior had another undefeated season going 17-0 at first singles for the Red Hawks without dropping a set. Ended her season with a 7-5, 6-1 victory over Jonah Majumder in the opening round of the Western Massachusetts Division 1 boys tournament. A three-time Gazette first-team selection. Will attend Providence College next year.
NICOLE McCANN (Amherst Regional) - The freshman standout went 25-1 splitting time at first and second singles. Seeded No. 2 in the Western Massachusetts individual tournament McCann finished second falling to teammate Maya Hart in the finals for her only loss of the year. Ended her season with a No. 2 singles win over Brianna Leonard of Westford Academy, 5-7, 6-4, 10-7 (super tie-breaker) for the Hurricanes' only win in the state championship match.
JULIANA GENSHEIMER (Amherst Regional) - The senior went 15-3 for the Hurricanes and provided team victory clinching matches over Longmeadow's Alexis Pothul, 4-6, 7-6 (8), 6-4 in the Western Massachusetts Division 1 Tournament championship and over Wachusett's Kim Diagle, 7-6 (8), 6-3 in the state semifinals. As a No. 11 seed, made her third straight Western Massachusetts individual quarterfinals. An honorable mention selection as a junior. Will attend Vanderbilt University next year.
CAROLINE MABEE (Amherst Regional) - Teaming with Sarah Krasnik and Brianna McBride, the senior was 19-5 at first doubles. Won two matches in a doubleheader against Notre Dame on senior night, the first with McBride (8-4 pro set), the second with Krasnik (8-5 pro set), to help secure the No. 1 seed for Amherst in the Western Massachusetts Division I Tournament. ... Will attend Mount Holyoke College next year.
HANNAH PANCIONE, left, & ABBY FOSTER, right (South Hadley) - The team of juniors finished the season 14-8 at first doubles and reached the semifinals of the Western Massachusetts individual tournament before losing to eventual champions Ashley Toebes and Kayla Dowd.
Honorable Mention
Katie Andrew, senior, Northampton
Julia Duda, junior, South Hadley
Lara Dulchinos, senior, Belchertown
Deana Nowakowski, junior, Belchertown
Kristi Spicer, senior, Northampton
Jill Beiermeister, junior, South Hadley
Sarah Krasnik, junior, Amherst Regional
Brianna McBride, senior, Amherst Regional
