Easy going for Greyhounds early on

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Naugatuck junior Martina Niebrzdowski lines up a return shot April 11 versus Wilby in Naugatuck. The Greyhounds have started the season 7-1. –LUKE MARSHALL
Naugatuck junior Martina Niebrzdowski lines up a return shot April 11 versus Wilby in Naugatuck. –LUKE MARSHALL

NAUGATUCK — The Naugatuck girls tennis team is in the thick of the Naugatuck Valley League race after jumping out to a 6-1 start to this season. But head coach Jose Sendra remains cautiously optimistic saying his girls have yet to play some of the top teams in the league.

The Greyhounds made it look easy Monday by disposing Crosby, 6-1, with the four singles players sweeping past the Bulldogs.
Hannah Kim held the lead throughout the No. 1-seed match, defeating Barbara Madhoo by an 8-2 margin. Kayla Gallant served up an 8-2 win over Jodie Gray in the No. 2-seed match.

Mikaela Santo continued the domination by defeating No. 3 seed Klea Kaso by an 8-2 final margin and No. 4 Sarah Cook made it a clean sweep with an 8-1 win over Alyshia Acevedo to clinch the victory for Naugatuck before the doubles portion of the match.

“We are doing fine as a team with six wins already,” Sendra said. “But we have to be cautious because we still haven’t faced a lot of the top teams in the league yet. We still have to face St. Paul and Watertown and they will give us a battle. I expect us to qualify for the states and to do well in the league meet. I’m still working on the combinations for our doubles play but so far I’ve been pleased with our performance.”

Naugatuck junior Kayla Rotatori serves April 11 versus Wilby in Naugatuck. The Greyhounds have started the season 7-1. –LUKE MARSHALL
Naugatuck junior Kayla Rotatori serves April 11 versus Wilby in Naugatuck.  –LUKE MARSHALL

Naugatuck took the first doubles match against Crosby with Martina Niebryzdowski and Chelsea Iglesias defeating the tandem of Kalleen Torres and Cheryl Freehoffer by an 8-3 margin.

The Bulldogs struck back and won the second doubles match with Mercedez Abney and Lizmarie Negron getting past the Greyhounds’ duo of Edesiri Igbuya and Karla Iglesias in a back-and-forth battle that ended in an 8-5 decision.

The Greyhounds closed the match by winning the third doubles with Amelle Franzen and Liz Perez shutting out Ambar Ruiz and Edona Roci.

“We are in real good shape right now and the younger girls are really playing quality tennis,” Sendra said. “The girls have a great attitude and they are all pulling for one another. I would like to continue to work with the pairings for the doubles to get us ready to compete in the NVLs and try to get into the second round.”

Naugatuck defeated Torrington, 4-3, on Wednesday at home to improve to 7-1 on the year. The Greyhounds will host Seymour on Friday before visiting Woodland on Monday.