The defending state champion Hamilton-Wenham girls tennis program is two wins away from capturing their second straight crown.
The top seeded Generals took care of business on the courts at Pingree School Thursday afternoon, sweeping away Sutton High, 5-0, to advance to the Division 4 state semifinals.
“I’m really proud of these girls,” Hamilton-Wenham veteran head coach Joe Maher remarked after the quarterfinal triumph. “Only two of them (Naomi Provost and Sienna Gregory) started last year when we made it to the Final Four, so it truly is a testament to the work they all put into bettering their games coming into this season.
“They’ve gelled so nicely as a unit and push each other every day,” Maher added.
Now 17-2 on the season, the Generals advance to next week’s state semifinals. There, they’ll take on the winner of Saturday’s quarterfinal match between fifth seeded Ipswich (whom Hamilton-Wenham swept twice during the regular season) and No. 4 Hopedale.
Sophomore Emma Jani, the Cape Ann League Baker Division’s Player of the Year, continued her terrific season by winning her match at first singles for Hamilton-Wenham, 6-1, 6-0.
Junior Naomi Provost did likewise at second singles, defeating her Sutton opponent by the same 6-1, 6-0 score.
Ellie Holbrook of the Generals went three sets to win her match at third singles, taking down her foe from the Suzies by a 6-2, 2-6, 10-1 decision.
Both doubles matches were taken by Hamilton-Wenham by identical 6-0, 6-1 scores, with Sienna Gregory and Emily McIntosh prevailing at first doubles while Maddie Minich and Angelina Meimeteas did likewise at second doubles.
“Sutton’s doubles teams played outstanding,” said Maher. “The scores were not indicative of how competitive the match was, as many of the games went to deuce multiple times.”
Hamilton-Wenham has yet to drop a match in their three playoff games to date.