The Barrington High School girls tennis team had a wake-up call last week. The Eagles narrowly defeated North Kingstown, 4-3, on their home court on Wednesday, Sept. 30.

Eagles coach Riley Spillane said her team had easily handled the Skippers earlier in the season, winning 6-1 in North Kingstown. 

“There were a lot of closer matches than expected,” she said. 

Spillane said some of her players were nursing colds, and the Skippers players were playing some improved tennis. But the first-year Eagles coach believes the tightly contested match may serve as some motivation to her team as they prepare for the fast-approaching postseason. 

“I do think there was a little slump,” Spillane said, about her team’s play. “That match helped them get into ‘game mode.’”

The Eagles lost their first match of the season, falling to Prout. Barrington also lost twice to top-ranked LaSalle. All the rest of the matches have gone Barrington’s way — the team has a record of 7-3. 

Spillane said she has been particularly impressed with the level of play shown by Anastasia Mycue, Barrington’s number four singles player.

“She’s been very consistent,” Spillane said, adding that Mycue has often battled through long, difficult matches to win key points for the Eagles. 

Spillane was also quick to praise the play of Barrington’s first doubles team — Clara Bucher and XXXX Byon — and the Eagles’ third doubles team — Sadie Brown and Lily Stafford. Spillane said Brown and Stafford are undefeated in regular season play. 

Barrington will play at South Kingstown on Wednesday, Oct. 7, and will host its senior day event against Westerly on Wednesday, Oct. 14. 

Familiar faces

Spillane is a first year coach for the BHS girls tennis team, but she knew some of her players before the season ever started. 

Spillane had taught at Barrington Middle School for five years before she began teaching at the high school this year. She said some of the girls on the team knew her from the middle school, and they knew that she played tennis and had competed on her college team.

“I was pretty lucky coming in,” Spillane said. “We clicked right away.”

Spillane is optimistic about her team’s chances heading into the postseason. She is also sharing a message of consistency with her players, adding that she excited to see how her squad performs in the playoffs.