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Globe South Sports Notebook
Megan McCarthy wasn’t sure how a year away from competitive tennis would affect her game after transferring to Regis College from Georgia Southern University in the winter of 2008.
No worries for the former Ursuline Academy star from Norfolk.
McCarthy has surpassed her own expectations, compiling a 24-1 mark the past two seasons at first singles, including a 10-1 record this fall.
The Commonwealth Coast Conference’s 2008 Rookie of the Year and two-time Player of the Year, McCarthy said she took pride in a 24-match unbeaten streak that was snapped on the final day of the season last Sunday against Endicott, but never put undue pressure on herself to maintain the run.
“After a year off, I just wanted to play. I had no idea last year that I’d have a perfect singles record for so long,’’ said McCarthy, who is a tennis summer camp counselor at Wimbledon 109 in Walpole, where she took her first formal lessons.
“The honors last year were really exciting, but since we play shorthanded [Regis had just five varsity players because of injury and illness] it’s more important to me to lead as best I can, give some tips to my teammates and hope we can all be a better team in the future.’’
McCarthy (inset), who lost just three sets this fall, is as sharp in the classroom, with a 4.0 grade point average, as on the court. After one semester at Georgia Southern where she took a break from competitive tennis, McCarthy returned home to be with her ailing grandmother, who passed away last year after battling cancer.
“Megan’s just a very hard worker, very dedicated to her studies and her tennis and she just goes out on the court and has fun,’’ said Regis head coach Didi Weinreb.
McCarthy began playing tennis as a fifth grader in her hometown’s recreation program. In addition to starring at Ursuline (46-4 career record), she also played the USTA New England circuit and was ranked 38th in the 18-and-under singles bracket. Her brother, Michael, plays varsity tennis at King Philip Regional High.
She was a state individual South Sectional semifinalist her junior year at Ursuline, and helped the Bears reach the South final as a sophomore at No. 2 singles. As the team’s No. 1 singles player her senior year, McCarthy led Ursuline to the sectional title.
Odds and ends
Duxbury High grad Alicia Chandler was named the MASCAC Women’s Soccer Player of the Week after powering Westfield State to a pair of victories. The senior back netted the deciding goal in a 2-1 win over Keene State and added a goal and an assist in a 6-1 win over Fitchburg State. . . . Ashley Trudeau of Rockland averaged 13.3 kills, 11 digs and 2.3 service aces in a 3-0 week for the Framingham State College women’s volleyball team. The junior middle hitter had 18 kills and 18 digs in a 3-0 win over Anna Maria and 12 kills and 10 digs in a 3-0 victory over Maine-Fort Kent. . . . Kerry Arouca of Hanson, a senior at Westfield State, placed first in a field of 266 competitors at the James Early Invitational, covering the 5K course in 18:57.9. . . . Kristin Mulry of Holbrook is off to a great start in her sophomore season on the women’s soccer team at the University of Massachusetts at Boston. She was honored as the Little East’s Offensive Player of the Week for the second time this season after tallying three goals in a pair of Beacon wins. She scored with 6:30 left to give UMass-Boston its first win over Western Connecticut State, 1-0. Her teammate, sophomore Taylor Massman of Kingston, was honored as the conference’s Defensive Player of the Week after the Beacons recorded back-to-back shutout wins.Marvin Pave can be reached at marvin.pave@rcn.com. 
© Copyright 2009 Globe Newspaper Company.
