Hawks facing adversity

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Woodland’s Katie Rioux returns a shot versus Wolcott April 29 in Beacon Falls. Wolcott won the match, 4-3. –ELIO GUGLIOTTI
Woodland’s Katie Rioux returns a shot versus Wolcott April 29 in Beacon Falls. Wolcott won the match, 4-3. –ELIO GUGLIOTTI

BEACON FALLS — After starting the season 6-0, the Woodland girls tennis team has run into some adversity over the past two weeks. The Hawks have dropped three of four matches all by slim 4-3 margins.

“The streak has really hit us hard,” Woodland head coach Kate Gavigan said. “Injuries and vacations forced us to move some people around. Katie (Rioux) moved from No. 2 singles with a chance to make a solid contribution into the No. 1 doubles.”

The Hawks (7-3) picked up a 6-1 win over Holy Cross April 25. No. 1 singles Ali Mayne (8-0), No. 2 singles Amanda Doughney (8-1) and No. 3 singles Elif Abedin (8-1) all picked up wins over the Crusaders.

Woodland swept the doubles portion with the No. 1 team of Rioux and Paige Gainey (8-0), the No. 2 tandem of Alyssa Varesio and Angelina Padilla (8-2) and the No. 3 doubles team of Morgan Stockheimer and Ariana Sherwood (8-0) earning the wins.

The win over Holy Cross snapped a two-game skid that saw Woodland fall to Sacred Heart and St. Paul by identical 4-3 margins.

“The Sacred Heart loss was hard,” Gavigan said. “And then we kicked ourselves in the head with the loss to St. Paul because we had already beat them.”

The Hawks dropped another tough 4-3 decision to Wolcott last Friday.

Woodland’s Amanda Doughney returns a shot versus Wolcott April 29 in Beacon Falls. Wolcott won the match, 4-3. –ELIO GUGLIOTTI
Woodland’s Amanda Doughney returns a shot versus Wolcott April 29 in Beacon Falls. Wolcott won the match, 4-3. –ELIO GUGLIOTTI

Mayne (8-1) and Doughney (8-5) picked up singles victories over the Eagles. The doubles team of Varesio and Padilla won an 8-6 decision.

“It’s been a tough stretch, but you need to face some adversity if you expect to get better as a team,” Gavigan said.

The Hawks will play Ansonia on Thursday before hosting Crosby on Friday and Seymour May 9.

“It won’t get any easier this week as we have a few more tough matches against some very competitive teams,” Gavigan said early this week. “We need to not lose hope and stay focused trying to get some of the momentum back.”