A month in the making, Albemarle knocks off Western

It took almost a month to complete, but Albemarle’s girls’ tennis team held off crosstown rival and area power Western Albemarle, 7-2, on Thursday.
The Patriots (9-0) and Warriors resumed their match from March 27 — in which Albemarle led 1-0 — on a beautiful day, a rarity of late in Central Virginia.
“Unfortunately the lack of practice has made for some ugly tennis at times, but this team has experience and they’re learning on their feet,” said Albemarle coach Rich Lindsay.
In the lone match completed last month, Albemarle’s No. 1, Megan Napolitano, knocked off Western’s No. 1, Maddie Wilson, 10-5. Wilson was under the weather this time around and was unable to compete in her doubles match, and the Warriors could have used her services.
Napolitano combined forces with fellow sophomore Abby Lesnoff in doubles to defeat Sarah Nugent and Wilson’s replacement, senior Hayden Whitworth, 10-1, clinching the match for Albemarle.
Lesnoff, who made huge strides in the offseason, held off Nugent in their singles match, 10-7, and the Patriots found themselves ahead 4-2 going into the all-important doubles matches.
“I think the girls rallied around Hayden, coming forth and stepping up as a senior to play No. 1 doubles and I was very proud of her play,” Western coach Betsy Nugent said. “[Lindsay] and I have been battling it out a few years now, and it’s a great rivalry.”
“It’s been going on for a number of years, not just since we’ve been here, and we like to think of it as bragging rights around here.”
Lesnoff and Napolitano have played beyond their years so far for coach Lindsay, and with seniors Morgan Watt and Kelly Anderson leaving last year’s 20-1 squad that fell in the state quarterfinals, the coach is pleased to have the young duo step up and lead.
“This is just their eighth time out, they make me look like a good coach,” chuckled Lindsay. “Those girls have done a lot of work between the season, they deserve the credit. I’m more the mechanic — I didn’t build the car, I just kind of tune it up.”
Albemarle has only been able to practice a handful of times despite competing in nine matches. Lindsay and his squad will play five matches next week alone, and Lesnoff and Napolitano explained how that affects their routine.
“It’s been raining a lot and we haven’t really been practicing, so communication is key,” said Napolitano. “We’ve just been talking a lot. I feel like if we all focus and concentrate a lot, that we will do fine next week.”
Lesnoff added: “The talent is there, but practices are necessary. It’s good to practice with Megan because we need the time to be able to get to know each other’s game for doubles.”
Western Albemarle won’t have time to dwell on its first loss of the year, as the Warriors will take on Monticello this afternoon to resume a bubbling rivalry that featured several tight head-to-head matches a year ago.
“Monticello had a great team last year and I look forward to playing them [today],” Nugent said.