Northampton’s girls’ tennis team spent opening day at Freedom where the Patriots defeated the Konkrete Kids 7-0 on Monday, but the K-Kids left with an afternoon of solid tennis play and the anticipation of a rematch on Wednesday, past Press deadlines.

“Freedom has some good kids, and [Freedom coach] Mark [Sigmon] has always been great with letting us play,” said Northampton coach Kim Davis. “I played 21 kids today; he played 17, so we played a lot of exhibition matches today, and that’s how we get better.”

At number one singles, Isabella Szmodis defeated Abby Beil, 6-0, 6-0. At two singles, Olivia Taylor defeated Caitlin Stout, 6-2, 6-4, and at three singles, Keri Saulino defeated Emma Whitman, 6-3, 6-0.

“We lost nine people, so Caity [Stout] has a lot of experience, Emma [Whitman] has a little bit of experience, Rachel [Zeitner] played doubles last year, and she and her partner were bronze medalists at leagues but her partner moved,” Coach Davis said. “But we’re doing OK. We want to be not as much competitive as play.”

At one doubles, Isabelle Burnett and Katie Twiggar defeated Izzy Sawarynski and Emily McCutchen, 8-3, and at two doubles, Navya Manne and Devon Ulmer defeated Caroline Gray and Rachel Zeitner, 7-5, 6-4.

“I think one of the challenges was deciding who would get the ball,” said Zeitner. “My one-handed backhand seemed to help me a lot during the match.”

Gray is hoping the pair will be able to adjust their strategy for their next match against the Pates.

“We work with the same private coach so we use the same strategy for things,” she said. “He always works with us on net stuff.”

At three doubles, Annika Katchur and Isabella Barberis defeated Olivia Tepes and Bella Aguanno, 6-3, 6-1, and at four doubles, Samantha Torok and Anna Isbell defeated Carissa Andrew and Devin Roginsky, 6-0, 6-1.