Rain forced a postponement of the second straight match between the Tiverton and North Providence tennis teams at Tiverton High School on Monday night. The match was tied 2-2 through the singles matches and all three doubles matches were on the court before the rain came down.

The two teams are 6-0 (Tiverton) and 7-0 (North Providence) and are playing for the top spot in Division III.

Three of the four singles matches were decided by three sets.

Tigers three player Mackenzie Pelletier beat Riley Kate Pappas in two sets, 6-4, 7-5, (5) in the longest match of the day.

Four player Abby Forcier won her match in three sets 4-6, 6-1, 6-1 over Olivia Fontaine.

Tigers one singles player Jaimi Vaillancourt lost her first match of the season after winning six straight, to Mary-Catherine Fornaro 6-1, 2-6, 6-0.

Vaillancourt is not used to losing. She was undefeated as a two singles player last year, only losing one game and was 6-0 this year before losing to Fornaro. 

“I was kind of disappointed. I feel like I got in my own head a little,” said Vaillancourt.

Two player Suzanne Buckley also lost in three sets 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 to Olivia Koolian.

“The girls have been playing fantastic this season,” said Tigers Head Coach Lorne Teeter. “Everyone is working hard. I’m very proud of all of them — the way that they’ve all played at singles and the way that they have led the team.”

Coach Teeter, a history teacher at the high school, played tennis for Rhode Island College. After graduating, he coached the RIC mens’ team for nine years. He came to Tiverton a few years ago and helped coach the boys team to the D-III state championship as an assistant to Head Coach Bill Phillips last spring.

“That was a great team. We had a lot of fun,” he said.

 Coach Teeter took the girls team when the job came open over the summer.

“This season, I really wanted everyone to have fun and enjoy themselves. But since we are winning as well, you can’t ask for more,” he said.

The Tigers went deep into the playoffs last year, losing to North Providence in the semifinals.

Time to ‘get the bread’

Four singles player, junior Abby Forcier, said that the team is adjusting to coach Teeter’s style. “He’s a great coach. He teaches us a lot of great things. He’s helped us all step up our games,” she said, adding, “We are going to the tournament. If we keep practicing hard, we are going to win.”

Four singles player junior Abby Forcier says that coach Teeter’s team mantra is “Get the Bread!”

“That’s what we’ve been saying all season to get the team pumped up,” said Forcier. “When we’re on the courts, we’re ‘making the bread.’ When we finally win we’re ‘getting the bread,’” she said.

Tiverton is led by captains and singles players, Jaimi Vaillancourt, Suzanne Buckley and Mackenzie Pelletier.

Vaillancourt is a junior and the team’s one singles player. She won six straight matches before losing on Monday to Mary Catherine Fernaro of North Providence.

“She lost to a really solid player,” said coach Teeter. “She’ll bounce back and I expect great things from her for the rest of the season.”

“Jaimi’s ability is excellent for someone who’s never taken lessons and didn’t pick up the sport too early in life. She hangs with every one singles player out there. That’s really encouraging. we’ve been working on making her game even better. She’s very coachable, she does everything right and that’s why she’s a perfect co-captain for the team.”

“She doesn’t get down after she loses a point,” said Forcier. “She just gets back to business.”

Buckley, a senior, is the team’s two singles player. She is 3-3 for the season and has had a lot of tough matches according to coach Teeter.

“She’s very head-strong and plays really hard. She gets a tough match up every match. She does her best to adapt,” said coach Teeter. “I’m proud of the way she’s handled some of her loses as well as the way she’s handled some of her wins.”

“Suzanne always picks us up when we are on the court,” said Forcier.

Three singles player junior Mackenzie Pelletier is one of the most consistent players on the team, coach Teeter said.

“She’s a backboard out there. She hits the lob really well. She’s quick, speedy and gets every ball back. She’s a good baseline player. She’s great at making the other player hit one more ball, one more ball,” said coach Teeter.

“She’s a great captain. She motivates the team,” said Forcier.

Forcier, the four singles player, always plays tough matches and likes to keep them close. She always seems to pull them out at the end, according to coach Teeter.

“It’s her first year of playing singles. It’s very encouraging. She’s playing extremely well,” he said, adding, “When she’s focusing on hitting good strokes … she plays good tennis.”

Forcier dispatched her opponent Olivia Fontaine of North Providence in three sets.

“I like my backhand,” she said. “I don’t get down after losing a set. I battle back.”

The Tigers one doubles team, junior Lindsey Monast and sophomore Kira Galka, has been “very strong and been playing really well,” said coach Teeter.

Along with two and three doubles teams Hannah Nasiff and Isabel DelDeo, and Olivia Andrade and Marisa Cayer, they have won all but one of their matches this year.

“The doubles teams are really backing up the singles players with the wins,” coach Teeter said.

 “Freshman Isabel DelDeo is a great player. She has a very bright future at tennis.”

Former junior soccer player Marissa Cayer switched to tennis this year.

“She plays three doubles. She’s an athlete. She can move. She plays very aggressive at the net.”

Coach Teeter feels that the Tigers could be good for years to come.

“We have a very young team. Only Suzanne is graduating this year. It’s very encouraging.”