By Andy Hutchison

WESTPORT — The Staples girls tennis team has a jam-packed schedule as the calendar flips from April to May. 

Last week, the girls faced Wilton on the road and Bridgeport Central at home. The Wreckers are now in the midst of four matches in as many days, taking on both Fairfield high schools — Warde (Monday) and Ludlowe (Tuesday) — and Darien (Wednesday), all at home, before concluding the week at 4 p.m. Thursday at Trumbull.

Staples lost a hard-fought match against Wilton on April 23 with multiple matches going to the third sets and tie-breakers. Tatum Keefe was victorious against Vivien Eckert in a two-set match. The rest of the lineup proved more challenging in this 6-1 setback. 

The Wreckers, however, improved their overall season record against both Central last Thursday and Fairfield Warde on Monday, chalking up 7-0 and 6-1 victories, respectively.

Highlights of the Warde match were in second singles Amelia Berkowitz’s strong ground stroke game, winning 6-3, 7-5 against Jessica Han and Chloe Francis. Emma Kantor prevailed over Cory Lotstein and Phoebe Compton at third doubles in a first set tie-breaker and easy second set, 7-6 (7-2), 6-2. 

“We are definitely in a rebuilding year, having graduating six starting seniors last year. We have a young team this year rounding out our squad of upper class students,” said Coach Jennifer Wider. “The girls are giving it their all and playing with a lot of heart. I’m very proud of them,” she added.

(Game schedules are subject to change; click for the latest updates.) Andy Hutchison has been covering school sports — including Staples athletics — as well as news and feature stories in Fairfield County, since the 1990s.