BELCHERTOWN — The Belchertown girls tennis team began its MIAA Division 3 state tournament trek with a resounding 4-1 win over Whitinsville Christian on its home court on Wednesday afternoon. The fifth-seeded Orioles’ only defeat came in first singles, but otherwise, it was business as usual for Belchertown in the Round of 32 victory.

Mia Corish and Gianna Picardi took victories in second and third singles, respectfully, while the Orioles’ doubles of Katie Collins and Edith Audette, plus Allie Randall and Emma Kornbluth, earned match wins to send Belchertown to the Round of 16. 

“Being willing to embrace their nerves and embrace the situation and all of the feelings that come with it and then to rise to the occasion that the situation presented is something that I’m really proud of,” Orioles head coach Alanna Grady said.

Alison Sim beat Belchertown’s Amanda Murray (6-0, 6-2) for the Crusaders’ single team point. 

In second singles, Corish kept Whitinsville’s No. 2 Charlotte DeFrancisco at bay with consistent serves and clever returns to take the victory by scores of 6-1 and 6-2. Corish is one of four seniors on this year’s Orioles squad and has been key in their growth as a program throughout her tenure on the team.

“Mia’s been really strong for us in second singles all season and as one of our senior captains, she’s been proving all along that she’s someone that we can really count on,” Grady said. “It’s nice to see her playing well and constantly striving to keep playing well this late in the season.”

Corish was a freshman the last time these two teams met in the Div. 3 state tournament. The Crusaders swept that match, 5-0, in 2022, but on Wednesday, Belchertown’s depth proved it has come a long way in just three years time.

“The fact that we have a lot of folks who were on the team but were not necessarily in the lineup last year, who have wanted the opportunity to play in the big matches and they have that opportunity this year,” Grady said. “We were slightly familiar with the team, so it was nice to bookend, for my seniors, their experience here and just to be able to play and be able to earn points.”

Picardi didn’t allow Whitinsville’s Mia Besong to take a single game in third singles, as the Belchertown senior won the match by scores of 6-0, 6-0. Collins and Audette were sharp in first doubles, winning with scores of 6-1, 6-2, while Randall and Kornbluth competed in the tightest match of the day in second doubles. Belchertown’s final twosome needed three sets to snatch the ‘W,’ taking the match with scores of 4-6, 6-3, 10-6.

The Orioles — which earned the Class B Western Mass. title a week ago — will likely have another home-court match during the Round of 16 and Grady understands how important that will be, especially considering it’s an advantage the team did not have in 2024.

“The fact that tennis is such a physical game, but it’s such a mental game as well, so any sort of comfort that we’re able to have, like being on our home courts is helpful,” Grady said. “We have such a great support system from our families and from our school, so to be able to play in front of them adds something extra special to the match.”

Belchertown beat Watertown, 3-2, on the road in the Round of 16 a season ago, before falling in the Round of 8 to No. 1 overall seed Wilmington, 3-2.

This Orioles group are no strangers to deep playoff runs and Wednesday’s win was the first step in what they hope to be another lengthy ride in 2025.

“Being able to see, again, that we have the ability to get here,” Grady said. “Knowing that and believing that are two different things and we have a chance to strengthen that belief every time we get out there and have the chance to keep challenging ourselves. We’re hoping for more of those chances along the way.”

Belchertown’s (19-2) will play the winner of No. 12 Norwell and No. 21 Bishop Fenwick in the Round of 16.

Div. 4 Round of 32

No. 12 Lenox 3, No. 21 Frontier 2 – The Redhawks nearly pulled out the upset on Wednesday, but couldn’t win a match in singles, which ultimately ended their season in the Round of 32 defeat.

Esther Ehle and Aylen Shaw took first doubles (6-3, 6-4) while Brooke Charest and Hailey Fernandez toughed out a three-set win in second doubles (2-6, 7-5, 10-7) to give Frontier its two match points.

Thanushi Ratnatunge, Kayla Fagan and Ella Sibley came up short for the Redhawks in singles. The club finished the season with an overall record of 14-7.