Hanover
The No. 2 Marauders breezed past third-ranked St. Thomas Aquinas, 7-2, on Friday, a Zen-type performance in summer-like conditions at Storrs Pond Recreation Area.
It was the 49th consecutive win for Hanover (15-0), which will vie for its third straight undefeated season and state title Wednesday at Bedford Memorial Park against top-ranked Portsmouth. The Clippers took care of No. 4 Hollis-Brookline on Friday, 8-1.
It isn’t that the Marauders lack aggressiveness or vigor; several hard-charging volleys and emphatic overhand points demonstrated as much Friday. It simply seems that no matter the stage, Hanover’s players perform with a collective calmness that aids their success.
“I’d say we’re competitive, just not hot-headed,” said No. 1 singles player Rine Uhm, who won a spirited match against the Saints’ Izzy Leonardi, 8-6. “In tennis, it’s easy to get frustrated, to start shouting or smacking your racket and things like that. But that just makes you play worse.”
Most often when the Marauders missed a return volley or hit one out of bounds Friday, they recovered to win the next point. Even St. Thomas’ come-from-behind wins at No. 4 singles and No. 2 doubles — the latter handing the first loss of the season to the reliable tandem of Margaret Werner and Ellen Lamm — didn’t seem to fluster Hanover much.
Equanimity isn’t something second-year Marauders coach Liz Murray preaches to her players. She feels fortunate she hasn’t found it necessary.
“Honestly, I feel like the luckiest coach in the world, because I never have to tell these guys to tone it down,” Murray said. “They just sort of naturally play that way. I’m not sure if it’s the reason we succeed, but it doesn’t hurt.”
Uhm led 6-3 against Leonardi, who’d prevailed 8-0 in the quarterfinals against Coe-Brown. Leonardi rallied to within 7-6, but the fluid and consistent Uhm dug out match point for an 8-6 win.
Izzi Davis had little trouble against Mary Diharce at No. 2, winning 8-1, nor did Werner in a shutout win over St. Thomas’ Rachel LaPorta at No. 3. Werner, a nationally ranked junior squash player, utilized a dominant forearm she developed in part while playing that sport.
“It’s always been one of my strengths,” said Werner, a junior and team captain.
Lamm led 4-1 at No. 4 singles before succumbing to St. Thomas freshman Adrienne Bevins, 8-7. Fatigue appeared to play a role for Lamm, exhausted after a match played entirely in the sun.
“I think she’s OK about what happened,” Murray said of Lamm’s reaction to the loss. “You could see how tired she was; it certainly wasn’t for lack of effort.”
Bri Laycock (8-1 over Delaney Kennedy) and Mindy Wu (8-0 against Kierra Crowley) won decisively at Nos. 5 and 6 singles, respectively, clinching a trip to the final for Hanover before any of the doubles matches got started.
At No. 1 doubles, Uhm and Davis trailed 2-0 before asserting themselves for an 8-4 win against Leonardi and Bevins, improving their record together to 10-0 this season.
“They understand and respect each others’ individual games so much; I think it helps them play off of each other,” Murray said.
Diharce and LaPorta rallied from a 6-3 deficit to edge Werner and Lamm, 8-6, at No. 2 doubles, while Laycock and Wu wrapped up the hazy — but not lazy — win for the Marauders.
Now matter how calm they appear, Hanover never feels in danger of complacency. The Marauders have lost just five sets all season, but they don’t take winning for granted.
“We know if we let up, any one of these teams can surprise you,” Uhm said. “Every opponent (presents) their own challenges.”
Net shots: St. Thomas was the last team to beat the Marauders, in the 2013 semifinals at Dartmouth College’s Boss Center. Hanover avenged it with a win over the Saints in the final the following year. … St. Thomas coach Rusty Whitehouse doubles as the school’s longtime girls soccer coach. … Wednesday features a rematch of last year’s final, won 8-1 by the Marauders. … Portsmouth (16-0) may have earned the No. 1 seed by virtue of its half-game lead over Hanover in the final regular season standings. The Marauders lost a scheduled match after Lebanon did not field a team, Murray said. … An exhibition doubles match was staged between Hanover’s Grace Li-Emma Watson and Marleigh Tetreault-Maddi Dillow. Li and Watson won. … The team posed for an on-court photo with longtime fan Ed Lord, of Hanover. Lord’s daughters, Sarah and Amy, played for the program in the 1970s and ’80s. … Wednesday’s match is scheduled for 4 p.m. Bedford Memorial Park is on County Road, about 0.2 miles east of the main entrance to Bedford High School.
Jared Pendak can be reached at jpendak@vnews.com or 603-727-3225.