Fore-Hand It to Girls’ Tennis: A Season of Firsts Amidst COVID-19

After a season marked by new protocols and uncertainties, the North Providence High School girls’ tennis team cruised to a solid 3-3 record in Division II.

The team faced two distinct challenges coming into the new season—a loss of seven starters from last year and a move up into a new division, which was determined by their back-to-back championships in Division III in 2018-19. Not only that, but there was a myriad of new COVID-19 protocols, from a shortened season of six games to a restriction during matches where each team could only serve using their own balls.

In their last match of the season on Saturday, November 7, the Cougars boasted a 6-1 victory over Lincoln High School at Stephen Olney Park. Singles wins were made by junior Paula Zhuang at second, junior Alena Rizzo at third, and sophomore Graycen Pappas at number four. Senior duo Michaele Ramos and Amna Khan wrapped up their NPHS tennis careers with another triumph at one doubles. At second doubles, freshman Maria Fontaine and sophomore Eva St. Germain won as well, followed by a win by junior Cristina Alcala and senior Alyashanti Green at third doubles.

Just the previous day, the Cougars had suffered a 5-2 loss against Ponaganset, with wins from Zhuang at second singles and Ramos at fourth. These last two games with Ponaganset and Lincoln were also set apart by the loss of a team member and the subsequent reshuffling of rank.

Rizzo and Zhuang, named the MVPs of the season, finish off with a 4-2 and 5-1 record, respectively.