Hopkinton High School tennis player Swiya Patel holds her position at the net while teammate Eva Lacoche serves during a recent match. PHOTO/JOHN CARDILLO

A recent battle with Westwood for supremacy in the Tri-Valley League proved to be the longest match that Lyn Calkins has experienced in her tenure as coach of the Hopkinton High School girls tennis team.

With the overall match tied at two wins each, the second doubles tandem of sophomores Aarushi Sheth and Shruti Musan battled the competition for four hours. The match lasted so long that it had to be moved midway through so that they could finish on one of the two courts equipped with lights. In the end, the Hillers prevailed.

The young HHS team won 11 of its first 12 matches in the regular season, rising to the top of the TVL despite shaking up the lineup relative to a season ago.

“This is a humble team,” Calkins said. “They are very eager to learn and to work hard when they play their matches.”

Hopkinton also is fielding an even-keel team this spring.

“If they are feeling stress on the court, they do not show it at all,” Calkins said.

Sheth and Musan both were on the junior varsity team last season, and their coach said they have given the Hillers a reliable team at the back end of the lineup.

“They are comfortable playing together, and they have developed a solid partnership,” Calkins said.

The first doubles team of junior Swiya Patel and sophomore Eva Lacoche is equally effective, and the duo won all but one of their matches through the first dozen contests. Despite it being their first year together, they already are one of the top doubles tandems in the TVL.

“Eva plays soccer, and her athleticism allows her to cover a lot of the court and be aggressive up at the net,” Calkins said. “She also likes to compete, and she understands performing under pressure because of her soccer career.”

Hopkinton saw a big shakeup this spring in its singles lineup. Junior Charlotte Nadeau rocketed up the roster from second doubles a year ago to first singles this year. This allowed senior May Chen to move to second singles, where she has been dominant. At third singles, freshman Karen Foo has stepped in and also produced a winning season.

“Karen is mature beyond her age and very poised on the court,” Calkins said. “She has been a great addition.”

Heading into the homestretch, Calkins said the team’s goals are to continue rolling, remain the top team in the TVL after capturing the league title a season ago, and be in a position to compete in the Division 1 state tournament. The Hillers can tackle those big goals by focusing on the process, she said.

“I want to see the girls improve on what they have been learning in practice and utilizing in matches,” Calkins said. “I just want them to continue to get better, both individually and as a team.”