Tiverton High School Sports
Tigers loving D-2 grind despite falling to Patriots 6-1
Sowa improves to 7-1 in loss
Story and photos by Richard W. Dionne, Jr.
Posted 9/22/26
The Tiverton tennis team fell to Porstmouth 6-1 during a Division 2 away match on Friday afternoon. The Tigers fell to 4-4, while the Patriots improved their record to 6-1. Tiverton first singles player Brooke Sowa won the lone match for the Tigers, beating Patriots Elizabeth Carrubba in straight sets, 6-2, 6-3. The senior has started the season strong at 7-1, after struggling in the top spot last year.
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Tiverton High School Sports
Tigers loving D-2 grind despite falling to Patriots 6-1
Sowa improves to 7-1 in loss
First singles player Brooke Sowa improved to 7-1 after downing Patriot Elizabeth Carrubba in straight sets, 6-2, 6-3.
Second singles player Angie Cordeiro played her heart out, but eventually fell to Patriot Pia Streuli, in a hard-fought match that came down to a pair of set tie-breakers, 7-6, 7-6. The junior Tiger played first doubles last season.
Third doubles teammates Hailey Archambault and Stella Valentino share a laugh during their 6-2, 6-3 loss to Portsmouth's Anh Kraska and Martina Haslam.
Tigers First doubles pairing of Emanuely Faustino (left) looks on as teammate Carly Sanna smashes a winner during their 6-4, 6-2 loss to Patriots, Maddie Couto and Audrey May.
First singles player Brooke Sowa improved to 7-1 after downing Patriot Elizabeth Carrubba in straight sets, 6-2, 6-3.
Stella Valentino laughs at herself after hitting a winner during the match.
Tiverton third singles player Caroline Durost fell to Olivia Tilman in straight sets, 6-2, 6-1.
Posted
The Tiverton tennis team fell to Porstmouth 6-1 during a Division 2 away match on Friday afternoon. The Tigers fell to 4-4, while the Patriots improved their record to 6-1. Tiverton first singles player Brooke Sowa won the lone match for the Tigers, beating Patriots Elizabeth Carrubba in straight sets, 6-2, 6-3. The senior has started the season strong at 7-1, after struggling in the top spot last year.
“Brooke’s having a killer season,” said Tigers head coach Jess Cullinan. “She has been really confident. There not a player that scares her on the court.”
Sowa, a championship softball and basketball player, is a 5-tool athlete that can play any sport.
“I strive to play my best,” she said. “I try to stay strong and not be a bad loser on the court.”
She has been working on her hard-flat serve that she said is a big reason for her success this season.
When I hit it in, it doesn’t get returned,” she said. “My forehand is also very good and I am quick on the court. But I need to work on my consistency.”
Tiverton moved up to Division 2 to gain better competition for the Tigers, who have been playing at the top of Division 3 since they moved down in 2024.
“Our team was playing mostly non-competitive matches and we wanted more of a challenge,” said Coach Cullinan, who has been happy with the Tigers' play.
“My goal for the team was to be in the middle and make the playoffs. We are currently right there. And we had our first 7-0 win in Division 2 since 2021.”
Tiverton beat Middletown 7-0 in an away match last Monday afternoon. They also beat Cumberland 4-3, Mt. Hope 6-1 and PCD/SRA 4-3.
“ That was a big win,” she said. “They had beat us three times in the past two years.”
The Tigers team camaraderie remains high despite their even record and though the competition is tougher, the team is still having fun.
“Practice is always fun. We all get along really well," Sowa said.
The matches
The Portsmouth girls' tennis team beat Tiverton 6-1 during a Division 2 home match on Friday afternoon. The Patriots improved their record to 6-1 while the Tigers fell to 4-4.
Portsmouth, who moved down from Division 1, swept doubles and won second, third and fourth singles. Patriots first doubles team of Maddie Couto and Audrey May won in straight sets over Tigers Emanuely Faustino and Carly Sanna 6-4, 6-2.
“Our team is amazing,” May said. “We are all super close and I love playing with them.”
She and doubles partner, Couto, are undefeated this season as are all of the Patriots doubles teams.
“Our styles complement each other,” she said. “We both hit hard, we both serve well and can play well at the net.”
Second doubles pairing of Sophie De la Huerta Barnard and Phoebe Hadley beat Sadie Loureiro-Brown and Nanami Cater 6-2, 6-1. And the Portsmouth third doubles team of Anh Kraska and Martina Haslam beat Haily Archambault and Stella Valentino 6-2, 6-3.
“We are having a great season,” said head coach Betsy Eyre. “We have some experienced players and the fact that we’ve found the right combinations have made them all good teams.”
Second singles player Pia Streuli, a junior who moved up from third singles, won a hard-fought match. That came down to a pair of set tie-breakers, over Tiverton’s Angie Cordeiro 7-6, 7-6. The junior Tiger played first doubles last season.
Olivia Tilman at third singles, beat Caroline Durost in straight sets, 6-2, 6-1 and Sidonie Burton, at fourth singles, beat Bella Scull 6-2, 6-0.
