Several Cougars had never grappled with such an outcome. They had lost before, but not quite like this.
Defeat at the hands of Bishop Feehan on April 29 terminated a multi-year streak for Notre Dame Academy of Hingham girls’ tennis. The group had won 32 consecutive regular-season matches dating back to May 2, 2023.
But it didn’t smash their spirits. Rather, it grounded them in the reality of a competitive journey they each chose to embark on.
“It was good to come away from that and realize there’s always stuff to work on. There’s always going to be someone who’s better,” said coach Joanne Healey. “You rise to the level that you’re given.”
Instilled with new perspective, the Cougars promptly went back to work. And they were ready when a rematch arrived two weeks later.
NDA Hingham wrapped its regular season at 15-2 and in prime position for a top-four seed in the MIAA Division II state tournament, set to begin next week. It appeared at No. 4 in Tuesday’s power rankings – good for the team’s highest position yet in 2025.
Not only did the squad solve the Shamrocks in their second meeting, but it swept seven of its final nine matches following the streak-snapping loss, leaving No. 10 Bishop Feehan in Div. I and No. 6 Hingham as the dual dings on its resume.
“We’re very consistent as a team. We win together, and we lose together,” said junior Vivienne LaGrassa. “We just really have to stick again to that consistency.”
Vivienne LaGrassa speaks with coach Joanne Healey (center) and assistant Jeffrey Chang (right) during a changeover.Jack Nelson
A quest now formally begins to culminate everything with a crown. And the building process entails far more than the regular season the Cougars just concluded.
In 2023, NDA Hingham reached the state semifinals. A year later, it advanced all the way to the championship match.
Neither of those runs produced titles, though. They’ll have to take the next step – the hardest one of all – to secure the second ultimate trophy in program history.
Powering their well-oiled machine has been one of the South Shore’s most promising young talents in freshman Sophia Lirio. She’s won 28 of her 29 total sets played at first singles this campaign, and ranks No. 67 in New England for Girls 16 & Under, per the USTA.
Last season, she operated primarily at court two and went a perfect 20-0. She posted a not-too-shabby 15-5 mark as a seventh grader while holding that same spot.
Lirio – now 15-0 in 2025 – enters the postseason fresh off the 50th win of her Cougar career.
“I look at these girls like my sisters. If we didn’t have good chemistry, I wouldn’t have the motivation to win for them,” Lirio said. “But even if we lose, we lose together, and we just get back up.”
Lirio taps rackets with her teammates during lineup introductions before a match.Jack Nelson
In a lineup that features no seniors, LaGrassa and sophomore Julia Walsh are a combined 19-7 at second and third singles, respectively.
An x-factor has emerged in the form of Molly Dunigan – a freshman – winning alongside whoever she’s been paired with en route to an 11-0 record across the doubles courts. Junior Caroline Kessler, meanwhile, isn’t far behind at 11-1 in that same respect.
Overall, none of NDA Hingham’s top-four doubles players have surrendered more than two matches this spring.
The Cougars’ winning ledger in Div. II is headlined by two victories over No. 8 Milton, as well as shutouts of No. 9 Duxbury and No. 13 Scituate. Both of their losses were 3-2 decisions.
“We came from a high, so they really had to keep proving themselves,” Healey said. “And they came in and proved that they’re still the same team that they were last year.”
Skye Bunge and Molly Dunigan switch positions between points at second doubles.Jack Nelson
Five consecutive wins now separate the Catholic Conference champions from their final goal.
It’s a feat they managed twice this regular season, and many times beforehand under Healey’s direction.
But this stretch will be different. There won’t be time for a team regroup.
