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Battled-tested Greyhounds riding momentum 

Naugatuck’s Kayla Gallant lunges to return a shot May 2 during a match versus Holy Cross in Naugatuck. The Greyhounds beat the Crusaders 4-3. –ELIO GUGLIOTTI
Naugatuck’s Kayla Gallant lunges to return a shot May 2 during a match versus Holy Cross in Naugatuck. The Greyhounds beat the Crusaders 4-3. –ELIO GUGLIOTTI

NAUGATUCK — The Naugatuck girls tennis team is getting down to business. The Greyhounds have swept opponents and lately showed their resolve by pulling out a few knuckle-scrapers to improve to 8-1 on the season.

Naugy responded to its only loss of the season by salvaging a pair of 4-3 victories last week over St. Paul and Holy Cross. The Greyhounds used that momentum to sweep past Crosby on Monday and Torrington on Tuesday.

The hill gets a little steeper with matches against Seymour on Wednesday and Kennedy on Thursday. The matches will make it four straight in four days for the battle-tested Greyhounds.

“We will be OK this week,” Naugatuck head coach Jose Sendra said before the Seymour match. “Actually, I’m happy to have all these matches. It will get the girls ready to take on future opponents.”

Naugatuck needed to be more than ready last Monday when it faced St. Paul. The Falcons stormed out to a 3-0 lead when Meghan Collins squeaked by Mikaela Santo in a 9-8 final and were one match away from securing victory. But the Greyhounds turned the tables and banged out the nails to come back and earn a 4-3 gut-check win.

Naugatuck’s Chelsea Iglesias lines up a forehand shot May 2 during a doubles match versus Holy Cross in Naugatuck. Iglesias and her doubles partner Kayla Rotatori won the match 8-4, as Naugatuck beat the Crusaders 4-3. –ELIO GUGLIOTTI
Naugatuck’s Chelsea Iglesias lines up a forehand shot May 2 during a doubles match versus Holy Cross in Naugatuck. Iglesias and her doubles partner Kayla Rotatori won the match 8-4, as Naugatuck beat the Crusaders 4-3. –ELIO GUGLIOTTI

Sarah Cook started the comeback with an 8-4 win over Laura Giufridda, but the Greyhounds went into the doubles portion of the meet needing to sweep all three matches.    

Kayla Rotatori and Liz Perez teamed up to outdo Brittany Kennedy and Isabella Sabino with a solid 8-3 performance. Ashley Burkman and Tathiana Serrano tied the match at 3-3 with an 8-4 decision over Kelly Fascona and Brianna Rogers.

It came down to the final doubles of the match and it was no contest as Chelsea Iglesias and Crystal Wooster bested Maddie Gerrity and Alyssa Yum by a wide 8-1 margin.

Last Friday, Naugatuck was again was tested by a tough Holy Cross squad. Hannah Kim (8-4), Santo (8-2) and Cook (9-8) all earned singles wins to put the ‘Hounds on the brink of a win. Rotatori and Iglesias did the honors, earning an 8-4 win over Angela Hickey and Cara Yabut.

Naugatuck’s No. 1 singles player Hannah Kim returns a shot May 2 during a match versus Holy Cross in Naugatuck. Naugatuck beat the Crusaders 4-3. –ELIO GUGLIOTTI
Naugatuck’s No. 1 singles player Hannah Kim returns a shot May 2 during a match versus Holy Cross in Naugatuck. Naugatuck beat the Crusaders 4-3. –ELIO GUGLIOTTI

The Greyhounds rolled into the week with a full head of steam and a lot of confidence as they made quick work of both Crosby and Torrington. Kim led the way with a pair of 8-6 wins over both opponents at No. 1 singles.

Gallant, Santo and Cook also gained matching singles wins on both afternoons. The doubles duos of Rotatori-Perez, Serrano-Burkman and Iglesias-Wooster matched those sweeps.

After the busy schedule this week, which ends Saturday morning at Wolcott, Naugatuck will return to a more moderate pace next week. The Greyhounds will host Wilby on May 13 before finishing up with three meets in five days starting May 16.