The Barrington High School girls tennis team opened the regular season with a 6-1 loss to the defending state champions, LaSalle Academy, on Friday afternoon.

It was the same way the Eagles ended last year's season, bowing to the Rams in the Division I State Championship finals. (LaSalle was the only team in the state to defeat Barrington last year.)

Barrington Coach Betsy Brenner said opening up this year's schedule against LaSalle was a tough draw, but she and her team were still happy to be playing competitive tennis this fall. Coach Brenner also leads the Barrington High School boys tennis team, which was unable to compete in the spring as the Rhode Island Interscholastic League shut down sports because of the pandemic. Coach Brenner often reminds the girls team about the importance of following the rules and restrictions in place for the current fall sports season.

I tell them let's do everything we can to make sure this season's not canceled for the seniors, she said.

One of this year's seniors is top singles player Caroline Maher. She has been a standout for the Eagles in prior seasons also. Junior Kate Robertson plays number two singles and regularly challenges Caroline for the top spot. Caroline and Kate were both first team All-State selections last year.

"They are such strong players, such strong competitors," Coach Brenner said of Caroline and Kate. "They both have that innate competitiveness. They are as good as anyone else out there."

Coach Brenner said Marie Chanfrau, a junior, will play at third singles, followed by Sonya Pareek at fourth singles. Sonya, a sophomore, was part of the doubles team that won the state doubles title last year.

"I expect she'll play well," Coach Brenner said.

The doubles teams will be anchored by the tandem of Hailey Walter and Katie Byon. Coach Brenner said she is still working on some of the other doubles pairings.

"We're looking at different combinations," she added.

Four 4-year varsity players graduated from last year's team, so this year's Eagles will be a bit less experienced, Coach Brenner.

"We're definitely feeling that loss (of experience), but we have so much depth," she said.

Opening loss

Coach Brenner said she was pleased with her team's effort in the season opener — one of only six matches the Eagles will play during the regular season, compared to a regular season which has 16 matches.

"Despite missing two of our starters, we competed well and fought hard but came away with only one victory," she said. "Kate Robertson won decisively at second singles 6-2, 6-2.

"Everything is different this year, but we were happy to get the season started. We will keep working hard, one day at a time hoping that we stay healthy and safe and continue this most unusual season."