Tennis Clinches Playoff Spot on Senior Day

NARRAGANSETT – The Narragansett High School girls’ tennis team avoided a messy three-way tiebreaker for a playoff spot, and all but eliminated Middletown from the playoffs, thanks to a 5-2 win at Sprague Park on Senior Day Tuesday.

The Mariners (10-4, 9-4 Division II-South) swept all three doubles matches easily, and also won at No. 3 and No. 4 singles in straight sets. Middletown (7-6, 7-6 Division II-South) won No. 1 and No. 2 singles.

Narragansett head coach Russ Wyatt said he attempted to explain all of the various tiebreaker procedures to his team before the match, and saw their eyes glaze over. So, he made it simple for them.

“I told them, ‘Let me simplify it. Just beat Middletown and we’re in.’”

Without the victory, there was a potential of a three-way tie for the fourth and final playoff spot. The Mariners most likely would have been the team on the outside looking in, depending on the tiebreakers (most points against the other playoff team, then most sets).

On the other end, it was a tough loss for Middletown. The Islanders lost both matches this year against Narragansett, but they didn’t have their full contingent for either one.

Earlier this year, the Mariners won 4-3, but Middletown’s usual No. 4 singles player was missing. On Tuesday, Middletown was missing its No. 3 singles player because of an illness, and head coach Marianne Packer had to shuffle her lineup as a result.

“That’s been a little tough for us,” she said.

With the loss, Middletown needs to beat second-place Portsmouth, and for South Kingstown to lose to winless Chariho, to make the playoffs. It’ll be Senior Day for the Rebels, and they beat Chariho 6-1 at Wood River Junction.

However, Packer praised the work of the Bertsch sisters in singles play. At No. 1 singles, senior Kristin won 6-0, 6-0, and sophomore Sarah won 6-1, 6-2 at No. 2 singles.

“They’re definitely pretty dominant players,” Packer said, noting that their few losses had been at the powerhouse teams in the division.

Wyatt said he’s definitely seen his team develop as the year has gone along. Most notably, they went from losing a match at South Kingstown 5-2 earlier this year to winning the rematch a month later 4-3.

“Having pulled out a couple of 4-3 wins this year, we know we have the ability to compete,” he said. “It’s been getting experience, and understanding what I preach to them about digging deep.”

Also with the win, the Mariners avoid a first round matchup with Smithfield, the proverbial movie villains of the division. Smithfield has not lost a single point in 10 victories – a perfect 70-0 record so far for its lineup.

Instead, the Mariners will most likely play at Cranston West next Tuesday, depending on when other teams finish their seasons and when the playoffs can start. The Falcons are a more manageable 10-2.

Wyatt said he’s confident his girls can play well against Cranston. He noted that they beat Toll Gate 4-3 in a scrimmage, and Toll Gate managed to lose to West 4-3 this year.

Narragansett closes out the regular season by traveling to East Greenwich (13-0, 13-0 Division II-South) for a 3:30 p.m. match Thursday. East Greenwich has only lost two points the entire year.

Senior Day Festivities

Tuesday was also Senior Day for the Mariners, which Wyatt said no doubt helped amp up their play.

Reflecting on their seasons, No. 1 singles Mary Kate Sullivan and No. 2 singles Annie Hall said it had been a lot of fun, even though it was a challenging year for them personally.

Despite their team’s success, the duo normally loses their matches, except against Chariho. Sullivan said that as captains, they always maintain a positive outlook.

“I know that I have to be there because of my team,” she said.

Hall added that she always tries to stay positive in her individual matches.

“I just have to keep telling myself that I’m going to win this,” she said.

Both are four-year varsity players, but they are new to highly competitive singles, advancing up the ladder after the graduation of the DiPrete twins last year.

Sullivan started at No. 1 doubles as a freshman, and played No. 3 singles her sophomore and junior years. Hall started at No. 3 doubles, moving up to No. 3 and No. 4 singles play her sophomore and junior years.

Hall said she liked her team’s chances against Cranston West, adding that until recently they used to be in the same division.

“I think we have a chance,” she said.

Hall also swims for the high school team, and is currently looking at colleges. Northeastern and James Madison are high on her list.

Sullivan said that she likes to ski in the winter, and doesn’t do any other school sports. She is still looking at various colleges for the fall. When asked about her favorite memories with her team, she mentioned all the fun activities they do outside of tennis.

“I don’t know if it’s just one thing,” she said. “We hang outside of tennis s well – sleepovers, Newport Creamery…”

Sullivan has a little sister on the team, freshman Eileen “Eily” Sullivan, who plays No. 3 doubles with the team’s third senior, Jackie Harig.

“I love my partner,” Harig said, referring to Eily.

Harig said she played soccer for her first two years at Narragansett, then switched over to tennis as a junior.

“My mom and my sister play, and tennis is something you can play after high school,” she said, referring to casual league play.

Harig also plans to swim for the school team in the winter, and also picked out the team sleepover as a non-court highlight of her time with tennis. On the court, she said she’ll always remember her and Eily Sullivan beating South Kingstown in No. 3 doubles to win the match for Narragansett.

Although she’s still looking at schools, Harig mentioned Loyola-Maryland as one high on her list.

“I like being near D.C.,” she said.

Wyatt’s Final Home Game

The victory was somewhat bittersweet at the end though, as Wyatt announced that this would be his final home match for the Mariners. His eighth season will be his final coaching, and he will not be coaching the boys in the spring.

“It’s been eight great years for me coaching girls’ tennis,” he said. “I am officially done when you guys are done.”

Wyatt cited his work schedule as a reason for the change.