A 4-0 start to the season has earned the Barrington High School boys tennis team a pretty good mark from their coach, Story Salit. 

When asked to grade his team’s performance so far, Salit paused for a moment and then offered: “B plus,” adding, “That’s probably a little generous.”

Despite opening the year with a 5-2 win over LaSalle, a 6-1 win over Hendricken, and 7-0 wins over Moses Brown and North Kingstown, the Eagles still have room for improvement, said Salit. 

He said the defending state champs could do a better job with its decision-making and playing a higher percentage game. 

Salit had only praise for the Eagles’ number one singles player, Luke Sapolsky. The talented player is one of the team captains this year and is everything a coach could hope for, Salit said. 

“He’s a very good leader,” Salit said, adding that Sapolsky is willing to step in and help with drills at practice. His standing as the top singles player on the defending state championship team has not gone to his head, Salit said. 

“There’s no ego,” he said. 

Sapolsky’s contributions will be key for a team that lost five starters from last year’s squad, including singles players Charlie Martin, Jeremy Kuo and Vineet Abbineni. 

Filling in the singles’ vacancies are two of the top doubles players in the state last year: Bryce Kupperman and Gabe Anderson. The two Eagles partnered to repeat as state doubles champs last year — they knocked off an East Greenwich team in straight sets in the finals. 

This year, Kupperman is moving to number two singles, while Anderson is playing at number three singles. Salit said the two standouts are interchangeable at those two spots. Kupperman, a senior, is team co-captain with Sapolsky. 

“They were more than ready to play singles this year,” Salit said. 

Justin Kuo, Jeremy’s younger brother, will fill the number four singles spot for Barrington. He was a varsity starter in doubles last year. 

This year’s doubles teams are already impressing Salit. Henry Birbiglia and Connor Meehan will play at number one doubles. Meehan’s older brother, Garrett, played doubles for the Eagles’ varsity last year. Salit said Connor and Henry have good chemistry on the court. 

Carlo Flores and Jason Lu will play at number two doubles, while Ian Davis and Merritt Birbiglia will play third doubles for Barrington. Salit said all three doubles teams are strong, and will continue to progress as they get more time on the court this spring. 

About this year’s varsity team, Salit offered this: “They’re maybe the most coachable team I’ve ever had,” he said.