Mount Greylock's Foley Wins Western Mass Individuals Title

LONGMEADOW, Mass. – For the first time in at least two decades, the top female high school tennis player in Western Massachusetts comes from Berkshire County.

 

Mount Greylock Regional School seventh-grader Scarlett Foley Sunday beat two opponents from Division 2 Longmeadow to capture the Western Mass Tennis Individuals Championship.

 

Seeded sixth in the field, Foley beat the No. 3 seed, No. 2 seed and No.  seed on her road to the championship.

 

She started this weekend’s semi-final against No. 2, Kelci Talati, and won, 6-2, 6-1.

 

That set up a title match against another player from Longmeadow, Bailey Downes.

 

Foley took the first set, 7-5, but fell behind early, 4-1, in the second set. Foley won the next two games and battled Downes in a 15-minute game before the Lancer prevailed and, eventually, took the set, 6-3.

 

“With a 10-minute break in between the second and third set, Scarlett did a great job refocusing and was prepared to leave whatever happens on the court,” Mount Greylock coach John Jacobbe said.

 

What happened was a convincing win for the junior high star as Foley won the title, 7-5, 3-6, 6-1.

 

“Going into the tournament, I told the tournament director Scarlett was the real deal and all she did was introduce herself to Western Mass tennis in a big way,” Jacobbe said. “

 

“Obviously I am super proud of Scarlett. I knew she could do it, but, as a seventh-grader, you have to battle the highs and lows of a long tournament. Scarlett used her great talents but more importantly handled all adversity and setbacks with poise and confidence.”

 

Also at the Western Mass Individuals this weekend, Mount Greylock's Tate Carothers battled in the semi-finals against top-seeded Will Wartman of Longmeadow before falling, 6-4, 6-4.

 

Foley and the Division 4 Mounties (8-3) finish the team tennis season this week with matches at Greenfield and Pittsfield before Thursday’s home finale against rival Lenox.

 

Carothers and the unbeaten Mount Greylock boys (10-0), currently the fifth-ranked team in D4, are at Lee on Tuesday.