By Steve Bigham

F

irst-year tennis coach Kathy Davey takes over a young and inexperienced girls’ tennis team that may struggle in the early going this spring as it looks to get its feet wet. However, look for the Nighthawks to eventually find their way thanks to a positive attitude, good humor and a desire to improve.

“I really enjoy working with this group. They’re a lot of fun and have a lot of personality,” said Davey, who coaches the field hockey team in the fall.

“We’ve been practicing out here in the drizzle the past couple of weeks and the girls are not afraid to come out. We’ll probably take some lumps, but we’ll use it in a positive way.”

Seven players are gone from last year’s squad, including singles players Kaitlin Lavery, Alexis Nahoum and Kristin Daugherty. The lone returning singles player is sophomore Caroline Kunkel, who must now make the transition from fourth singles to first. Look for Kunkel to rely on her athleticism as she gets accustomed to the tougher competition.

Senior tri-captain Maria Pavelo will be the team’s number two singles player after spending most of her career playing doubles.

Freshman Sloane Schnell, a field hockey player, will man the third singles slot, while freshmen Brittany Meier and Kim Allen battle for the fourth singles position.

Newtown’s appears to be most experienced in the doubles area, although it will need to replace Monica Alpert, Amanda Cruz and Liz Hoffman, who all graduated a year ago. Junior tri-captain Caitlin Martin, one of Newtown’s more experienced players, will team up with sophomore Christina Andrews to make up a strong first doubles team. Senior tri-captain Jackie Alpert will join junior Kali Santarpia at second doubles, while junior Naomi Kim and sophomore Rachel Stern will play together at third doubles.

Other players who should see playing time this season are Jessica Nicolosi, Sarah DeNicola, Michelle Grimaldi and Christine Shannon.

Davey, a teacher at NHS, previously coached the tennis team at Watertown High School for four years.

SCHEDULE

 

Friday, April 6 – versus Ridgefield, 3:45 pm; Monday, April 9 – versus Bunnell, 3:45 pm; Wednesday, April 11 – at New Fairfield, 3:45 pm; Monday, April 16 – at Lauralton Hall, 3:45 pm; Wednesday, April 18 – versus Weston, 3:45 pm; Friday, April 20 – versus Stratford, 1 pm; Monday, April 23 – at Bethel, 3:45 pm; Wednesday, April 25 – versus Jonathan Law, 3:45 pm; Friday, April 27 – at Masuk, 3:45 pm; Monday, April 30 – versus Immaculate, 3:45 pm.

Wednesday, May 2 – at New Milford, 3:45 pm; Friday, May 4 – at Pomperaug, 3:45 pm; Wednesday, May 9 – at Brookfield, 3:45 pm; Monday, May 14 – at Joel Barlow, 3:45 pm; Wednesday, May 16 – versus Foran, 3:45 pm.

Monday and Tuesday, May 21 and 22 – SWC Tournament at Wolfe Park in Monroe.