2011 Top Sports Story No. 7: First loss is a last loss for Mattituck
It was an imperfect end to an otherwise perfect season.
The Mattituck High School girls tennis team enjoyed one of the best seasons it has ever had in 2011.
Coming off a losing 2010 campaign in Suffolk County League VII, the Tuckers rebounded with the League VIII title (their first league championship in four years) and an undefeated regular season. They finished with a 17-1 record. It was Mattituck’s best season since 1982 when the team went 18-1, with its sole loss coming to Port Jefferson in a county semifinal.
Mattituck’s statistics in 2011 were impressive. Every player in the lineup had a winning record. The Tuckers dominated most of their opponents, outscoring them by 117 1/2-14 1/2. They won eight matches by 7-0 scores and another eight by 6-1 scores.
“It was quite remarkable how few points we lost,” said Mattituck coach Jim Christy, who was in his 31st season as the team’s coach. “What makes it special is you literally see that every girl contributed. They had banner seasons.”
The third doubles team of twins Molly and Siobhan Nolan as well as third singles player Kyra Martin did not lose a set the entire league season.
And then there was Erica Bundrick, Mattituck’s first singles player. She completed her senior season with a sparkling 21-4 record.
Kate Mangiamele, who played second doubles with Nora Zuhoski, said, “I think we just had a lot of motivation.”
Mattituck’s season came to an end, though, with a 5-2 first-round loss to Half Hollow Hills West in the Suffolk County Team Tournament.
All in all, though, the Tuckers couldn’t complain about a season in which just about everything went right for them.
“I thought we would be good,” Christy said. “What I didn’t anticipate was how well these girls were going to compete and how focused and competitive they were. That surprised me.”
