King Philip Girls Tennis Heads into Uncharted Waters

Last year, the King Philip girls tennis team finished the season with another high win-loss ratio, going 17-4 before falling 3-2 to Brookline in the first round of the MIAA Division 2 South Tournament. 

Under coach Bob Goldberg, the Warriors have repeatedly advanced into the tournament, but for the first time in a number of years, the coach is unsure about this year’s squad.

Shortly before the season-opening match at King Philip against Franklin, Goldberg has yet to decide who is going to play where when his girls take the court for the first time this season.

“This year is going to be new to us,” the coach said. “We haven’t lost all that much in the past and this year we’re traveling a new road - one of unpredictability.”

While the coach is by no means conceding the season, he just hasn’t decided who is going to play where in order to help the team do what it does best: win. 

Senior Jill Beers and sophomore Rachel Palumbo have been battling it out
for the right to play first singles for the Warriors. Throughout the preseason,
the two have been dead even, leaving Goldberg in his current predicament.

The senior teamed with Alex Embree last spring to form a fearsome first doubles team for KP. With the graduation of all three singles players (including Beers' partner), Goldberg was scared that Beers was going to be thrust into the number one spot.

“I thought that Jill was going to be forced into playing in the top singles position,” Goldberg said. “Fortunately, she has come a long way from doubles and her game has gone much further than I expected. She just needs to be able to sustain it over a longer period of time.”

Palumbo, who saw very limited action in singles last season, has an all-around game, and just needs to develop a shot. According to Goldberg, Palumbo is a very coachable athlete who learns quickly, she’s a pure athlete with great hand-to-eye coordination.

“I’m still not sure who is going to be on the first court come opening day. In challenge matches they’ve been dead even,” the coach said. “It’s a tough decision, as once you establish a number one, you need to keep them there all season, you can’t be flip-flopping them back and forth.”

Whoever Goldberg decides gets the top spot, the other will follow her at second singles. The remaining five positions (third singles and two doubles tandems) are undecided as well, but don’t weave a tangled web as much as the first singles position does.

“I consider the third single position to be a swing position, where I can move players around depending on the team that we’re playing,” Goldberg said.

Three juniors are fighting for the third singles slot: Kendra Primavera, Michaela Gaudet and Sydney Holmes. All three have the ability to fit into third singles, but need to work on bringing their game to the next level.

Primavera tends to hit the ball hard every shot and eventually wears herself down, while Gaudet and Holmes are carbon copies of one another. Gaudet has worked extremely hard and has come along way, but needs to improve her footwork. Holmes has the same issues and could be a diamond in the rough (according to her coach) if she can get her footwork down.

Also in the mix to see some playing time will be Emily Bugbee, Hailey Burke, Brigid Murray and Colleen Donahue.