The Holy Cross High girls tennis team has played four matches over the past two days. The last of those four matches, which was Thursday afternoon at Watertown, featured a battle of undefeated NVL squads.
Holy Cross won all four of those matches, including a 4-3 victory over Watertown at Crestbrook Park.
The Crusaders improved to 13-0 in the NVL and 13-1 overall.
The Warriors fell to 13-1 in the NVL and 13-2 overall.
“I give the girls all the credit for hanging in there and playing four matches in two days,” Holy Cross coach Christopher Sutton said Thursday night. “They certainly went above and beyond the call of duty.”
Holy Cross began its Thursday with a home match against Kennedy. The Crusaders won that matchup, 5-2, then traveled to Crestbrook for the matchup with the Warriors. Watertown had defeated Wolcott, 4-3, earlier in the day.
“Everybody was a nervous wreck. Watertown’s got a lot of people cheering for them,” Sutton said, describing the atmosphere at Crestbrook.
Holy Cross and Watertown split the singles matches, 2-2. Michaela Bell (8-1) and Ella Mancini (8-1) won at No. 1 and 2 singles for the Crusaders while Vanessa Cipriano (8-4) and Anesa Xhena (8-3) took victories at No. 3 and 4 singles for the Warriors.
When Jayme Erdtmann and Rachel Honegger secured an 8-4 win at No. 1 doubles, Holy Cross grabbed a 3-2 match lead.
The No. 3 doubles match was the next to finish, and CC Bunlue and Caitlyn Colletti clinched the match for the Crusaders with an 8-2 victory.
The Warrior tandem of Emalyn Osborne and Charlotte Manalo wrapped up an 8-6 victory at No. 2 doubles to end the team match.
Sutton, in his sixth year coaching Holy Cross girls, beat Watertown for the first time.
The doubleheaders aren’t done yet for the Crusaders. Holy Cross plays two at Seymour next Monday.
The NVL team tournament is scheduled to begin the next day.