By Steve Bigham

Caitlin Martin and Jackie Alpert may have said it best about their experience on the Newtown High School girls’ tennis team this spring.

“It’s been the best of both worlds.”

The Nighthawks are having a ball under the tutelage of second-year coach Carol Lipnick, but they’re also winning. Heading into Wednesday’s match at home against Brookfield, Newtown was 6-4 on the season and looking good to improve on last year’s final record of 7-7.

With four matches to go, Newtown appeared headed for the state tournament and will likely qualify a handful of players for the South-West Conference tournament later this month.

Late last week the girls won two out of three matches to move two games above .500. The biggest was a 4-3 decision over a strong New Milford squad.

“That was a huge win for this team because we’re trying to qualify for states and every team you beat that’s on your level is just huge,” Lipnick said.

The decisive win came at first doubles where Martin and Monica Alpert beat Kristina Stachioth and Danielle Durno, 6-3, 6-4..

Against New Milford, Alexis Nahoum, Kristin Daugherty and Caroline Kunkel also won.

On May 4, NHS steamrolled Jonathan Law, 6-1, behind singles wins from Kaitlyn Lavery, Nahoum and Daugherty. The doubles teams of Martin/Monica Alpert, Jackie Alpert/Christina Andrews and Kali Santarpia/Liz Hoffman also came out on top.

Newtown closed out last week with a 5-2 loss at home to 10-1 Pomperaug. Nahoum and Kunkel picked up NHS’’ only wins.

 Newtown’s final home match will be played Monday afternoon against Joel Barlow on the NHS courts. The team will be saying goodbye to six seniors.

Newtown 4, New Milford 3

Singles: Katie Kamm (NM) def Kaitlin Lavery, 6-2, 6-3, Alexis Nahoum (N) def Kristina Harms 6-2, 6-3, Kristin Daugherty (N) def Allison Purcell, 6-3, 6-2, Caroline Kunkel (N) def Dirja Vujinic, 6-2, 6-0.

Doubles: Caitlin Martin/Monica Alpert (N) def Kristina Stachioth/Danielle Durno, 6-3, 6-4, Katy Eng/Sarah Baldi (NM) def Maria Pavelo/Jackie Alpert, 6-1, 6-3, Rachel Deuestern/Kim Norasing (NM) def Amanda Cruz/Rachel Stern, 6-1, 6-2.

 

Newtown 6, Jonathan Law 1

Singles: Kaitlin Lavery (N) def Sophie Holley 6-3, 4-6, 6-2, Alexis Nahoum (N) def Jyoti Sharma, 6-0, 6-0, Kristin Daugherty (N) def Kaity Welch, 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, Bryn Cianciolo (JL) def Caroline Kunkel, 6-7, 6-4, 6-4.

Doubles: Caitlin Martin/Monica Alpert (N) def Sarah Wilkinson/Shannon Horsley, 6-2, 6-1, Christina Andrews/Jackie Alpert (N) def Ashley Stach/Dani Masek 6-0, 6-4, Kali Santarpia/Liz Hoffman (N) def Teresa Welz/Ashley Oppedisann, 6-1, 7-5.

 

Pomperaug 5, Newtown 2

Singles: Alex Yestrumskas (P) def Kaitlin Lavery, 6-0, 6-0, Alexis Nahoum (N) def Yohna Shiffilleti 6-0, 6-2, Alissa Bellotti (P) def Kristen Daugherty 6-2, 6-3, Caroline Kunkel (N) def Vanessa Fica, 6-1, 6-2.

Doubles: Natalie Burnet/Angela Yanelty (P) def Caitlin Martin/Monica Alpert, 6-3, 1-6, 6-4, Lindsay Halas/Kristen Rowland (P) def Maria Pavelo/Amanda Cruz, 6-0, 6-2, Lyndsay White/Kelly Danielson (P) def Kali Santarpia/Liz Hoffman, 7-5, 6-4.