Girls' tennis: Algonquin's Olivia Almy claims singles championship and teammates Elaine Cho and Yasmin Lee earn doubles crowns

SHREWSBURY — Algonquin Regional freshman Olivia Almy lived up to her top seed with consistently powerful baseline volleys featuring superior pace to top AMSA sophomore Kirstin Hailey in the Central Mass. individual girls’ tennis final Sunday at St. John’s.

“It feels good. I’ve been waiting to play high school tennis for years, so it feels really good to actually win. It’s the best,” said Almy, noting that she began playing at age six by copying her sister’s lessons.

Almy moves onto the state semifinal on June 15 at St. John's.

Although delayed by morning rains, the contest lived up to expectations as the young women displayed athleticism and power beyond their years.

“Both girls fought hard and Olivia just ended up on top this time. Kirstin had an amazing match as well and stayed tough through the whole thing,” said Algonquin coach Julie Doyle. “I was very impressed with Olivia’s stamina and her strategy.”

Almy and Hailey met in the season opener, as Algonquin took a 3-2 win over AMSA and Almy rallied from a match point to take the win, 4-6, 7-6 (3), 6-2. On Sunday, Almy lost the first two games of the contest as Hailey’s long, left-handed serves forced even longer returns out of bounds early.

But Almy found her game and was able to break Hailey’s serve to take the first set, 7-5.

“It was tough because the wind was really strong today. And the sun was out the bugs were out, too,” said Hailey, who defeated Hopedale's Aimee Figgins to win last year's championship as a freshman. “But I think we both fought really hard and played very well. It stinks in the end to be on the losing end but I’m happy with the way I played.”

“I’ve known Olivia for a while now," Hailey said. "She’s one of my really good friends and we hit together and play together. She’s really sweet and a really good player.”

There was very little action at the net in this contest as the second set featured several stunning volleys of a dozen-plus shots including blistering back-hands and powerful forehands deep into the far court.

“They’re both so good,” said AMSA coach David Gordon. “It was just awesome watching them play.”

As the contest wore on, it was Almy’s ability to break serve after multiple deuce points to go up 3-1, then 5-1, that helped push her to the win.

“At the end I was really nervous,” said Almy. “I’ve known Kirstin for years. She’s my really good friend and I love her. She’s so much fun to play.”

Both players had to get through Westboro to reach the title match. Almy defeated Isabelle Seymour, 6-0, 6-0, in the semifinals while Hailey advanced with a 6-0, 6-0 win over Krithi Krishna.

Earlier, Algonquin senior captain Elaine Cho and sophomore Yasmin Lee won the doubles’ title with a 6-3, 6-1 win over Wachusett Regional sophomores Erin Shenk and Lama Chmaysem.

“They are two great athletes and very skilled tennis players,” said Doyle. “They work really well together.”

Cho and Lee advanced with a semifinal win over Shrewsbury’s Jenna Oliveri and Felice Xie, while Shenk and Chmaysem topped Westboro’s Shruthi Nelluri and Neha Perumal.

Wachusett coach Pauline Smith praised her team as “dedicated and committed” and noted the squad lost five of its seven starters from last year.

—Contact Shaun Suhoski at sports@telegram.com. Follow him on Twitter @tgsports.