Melrose Boys Tennis Toppled by Reading

The Reading High boys tennis team handed the Red Raiders a lopsided 5-0 loss in a Middlesex League contest at the Crystal Street tennis courts on Tuesday.

Melrose (2-5) was thoroughly defeated, failing to capture a single set, but still managed to make the Rockets work for their win.

“I’m pretty happy with the way the kids played,” said Melrose head coach Matt Williams. “We knew this was going to be an uphill battle, because Reading is one of the toughest teams in the league, as they always are.”

Reading (5-3) showed little signs of rust after an extended break from the court, having not played a competitive match since April 19.

“We played well today,” said Rockets head coach Bruce Appleby. “We’re a better team than Melrose, and they were missing a player ... We did okay.”

The Red Raiders were without the services of senior co-captain Zach Buchiri at third singles, and Sam Pham competed in his stead.

Reading’s Tyler Bova easily handled Tim Mongeau at first singles, winning 6-0, 6-0, while Tim Cobau kept things closer against Alec Tzianabos, falling 6-3, 6-2.

Perhaps the closest singles match was that of Pham, at the three spot.

At first doubles, Cam Harrison and Nils Leite succumbed to Reading’s Mark Cusolito and Brendan Sullivan 6-0, 6-0, while Pat McCauley and Jason Kenney fell to Scott Onigman and Jarid Polley by an identical score.

“We have to make sure we keep practicing, and make sure we keep our balls in the court,” said Williams. “A lot of the time, what we do is try and overhit the ball, and if we learn anything, it’s that consistency is a big deal in tennis.”

Both teams return to the court on Wenesday, with Melrose facing Watertown and Reading heading to Wakefield.