Laurel Christensen had her senior moment

WOONSOCKET – In the midst of her third set, Laurel Christensen glanced around the court and noticed numerous eyes fixed on her No. 1 singles match. It occurred to the senior that this would be her final time playing on her home court as a member of the Mount St. Charles girls tennis team, and depending on the outcome, possibly her last match with this team. Taking a moment to reflect, Christensen took a deep breath and then refocused, determined to secure one more match for her Mounties. In what proved to be one of her most important matches to date, Christensen emerged victorious with a hard-fought 6-4, 2-6, 6-3 win over Prout’s Mia Renzulli, clinching the win for Mount and securing another match for Christensen and her teammates as they face off against North Kingstown in the quarterfinals. Commenting on her victory, Christensen expressed, “It felt really good to win, especially with all my teammates by my side.”

Mount St. Charles girls tennis, which posted a regular season record of 6-6, will now face the No. 2 team in Division I, North Kingstown. Despite being the underdogs, the Mounties approach the match with confidence, having narrowly lost to North Kingstown earlier in the season with a 4-3 score. Determined to give it their all, the team is ready to see what happens on match day.

The match against Prout was an important one for Mount St. Charles, as Prout had to win their final regular season match to secure a spot in the postseason. Having defeated Prout 6-1 in a previous meeting, Mount anticipated a closer match this time around. The team started strong with a quick win at No. 2 doubles, but Prout swiftly evened the score with a win at No. 2 singles. However, Mount fought hard and managed to secure wins at No. 3 singles, No. 3 doubles, and ultimately the deciding match at No. 1 singles.

In the final moments of the match, with darkness approaching, Christensen and Renzulli battled it out in a grueling third set. Christensen showcased her impressive skills and determination, running down every shot and not hesitating to attack when the opportunity arose. In the end, Christensen emerged victorious, securing the win for Mount St. Charles. With tears of joy in her eyes, Christensen’s coach, Marissa Pitrone, approached her to offer congratulations and a hug. Reflecting on the moment, Christensen shared, “It was just really nice because she knows I work hard and it was really nice for her because I was the deciding match to know that we’re going to keep playing.”

Although the season has come to an end for Prout, coach Mike LaBarbera praised his team for their commitment and competitive spirit. Prout will return a significant number of players next season, and the experience gained from this postseason run will be invaluable in their future games. Looking ahead, Mount St. Charles is focused on their upcoming match with North Kingstown. The team recognizes the challenge, but they are eager to make the most of their remaining time together and are determined to come out on top. Expressing their desire for a win, junior Reagan McGrath stated, “We really want as much time as we can with the seniors,” while Christensen added, “I’m going to enjoy it. The bus rides are always fun. I’m more excited than nervous.”

SINGLES: Laurel Christensen, MSC, def. Mia Renzulli, P, 6-4, 2-6, 6-3; Maddie Mattiucci, P, def. Ava Rataic, MSC, 6-4, 6-0; Reagan McGrath, MSC, def. Caitlin Trainor, P, 6-4, 6-2.

DOUBLES: Ava Pickett/Athanasia Stefanopoulos, P, def. Sophia Lepre/Kaylee Thrul, MSC, 7-6 (1), 6-4; Giulianna Gill/Ava Raspallo, MSC, def. Sierra Redfern/Maddie Wilkinson, P, 6-1, 6-0; Madelyn Belisle/Brynn Link, MSC, def. Emma Finkelstein/Lydia Sousa, P, 6-3, 6-4.