Tennis Bounced From Playoffs by Falcons

WAKEFIELD – Although the final score was a bit deceiving, the No. 3 seeded the Cranston West Falcons 4-0 eliminated the Narragansett Mariners from the Division II playoffs on Tuesday afternoon at the Prout School.

Cranston used wins in straight sets at No. 1, 2 and 3 singles, and No. 2 doubles, to take the match. No. 4 singles and No. 1 doubles were both headed to or in a third set, but per playoff rules, the match was immediately stopped once one team earned four points, to avoid injury.

Cranston West head coach James Lucas thought his team would play well after an intense practice session on Monday afternoon.

“We worked really hard in practice yesterday,” Lucas said, noting that the emphasis was on playing tactically sound tennis – forcing the opponent to move and make shots, instead of getting caught in endless volleys.

“We wanted to make sure we played a clean match today,” he said. “Taking [our power hits] and using more strategy, to be able to setup the points.”

At No. 1 singles, Tressa Cannata beat Mary-Kate Sullivan, 6-1, 6-1. Annie Hall, the Mariners’ No. 2 singles player, hung tough with Jenna Grossi before losing 6-4, 6-1, in the longest of the two-set opening matches.

In No. 3 singles, Rebecca Scialabba won 6-0, 6-1 against Heather Dorich. And Narragansett’s usually strong No. 2 doubles of Olivia Scalora and Kristen Gershkoff were overwhelmed by the hard-hitting duo of Erin Rabbitt and Alex Villari, 6-3, 6-3.

Narragansett’s Gabby Smith led at No. 4 singles against Danielle Leonardo when play was suspended. Narragansett’s No. 1 doubles teams of Eliza DeCubellis and Victoria McGreen had forced a third set against Amanda Carmody and Bridget Wall. The No. 3 doubles match between Narragansett’s Jackie Harig and Eily Sullivan, and Cranston West’s Danielle Dulieu and Alessandra Portukalian, did not start.

Narragansett head coach Russ Wyatt said that while he wasn’t happy to see the season end, he couldn’t fault his girls with how they played. He noted that they got stronger as the year went on.

Unexpectedly, it was Narragansett’s doubles that had trouble on Tuesday, which is usually a source of strength for the team.

“Their two doubles teams had more power than we’re used to seeing,” Wyatt said. “It’s different when you get a ball hit right at you.”

Wyatt echoed the sentiments of Lucas, noting that his team got “out-steadied” by the Falcons, who didn’t make many errors.

The Falcons will take on the undefeated East Greenwich Avengers 3 p.m. Thursday at Barrington High School. According to a box score in The Providence Journal, the Avengers won 4-0 against Providence Country Day.

The winner advances to the Division II finals, which will be held 11 a.m. Saturday at Slater Park.

Cranston West will have to play its best tennis of the year to upset a tough East Greenwich lineup. The Avengers best comparison is Division II-North’s Smithfield, who is also undefeated, and who beat Cranston West 14-0 in two matches.

“I’m looking for them to do the same things they did today,” Lucas said when asked what the Falcons would need to pull the upset.

When asked for his comments on East Greenwich and Smithfield, Wyatt was candid.

“I can say that Division II will not miss Smithfield and East Greenwich when they move up,” he said.

The two combined for a 28-0 record this year, and only lost three points the entire season. East Greenwich went 14-0 in 2010 as well, and won the Division II title in 2004 and 2005. Smithfield won the Division III championship in 2006 and 2007, and the Division II title in 2009 and 2010.

Reflecting on the season, Wyatt said it surpassed his expectations.

“We pulled an upset off against South Kingstown,” he said, referring to the Mariners’ 4-3 win against the rival Rebels. “We , and the girls .”

He added, “It’s just a shame the season had to end.”