By ALEX SPONSELLER After a few down seasons, the Cranston East girls tennis team bounced back for one of its best campaigns ever in 2020.

The Lady Bolts flew under the radar for much of the season, even up until the playoffs. Midway through the regular season, the Lady Bolts were seemingly on the outside looking into the Division III postseason picture. However, they would catch fire down the stretch and work their way into the playoffs and earn a 4-0 quarterfinal win over St. Ray’s.

East later made program history in the individual state championships. Three players - Mina Grady, Maura Potter and Jianna Zambarano - made it through the qualifying round which marked the first time ever East had three competitors in the state tournament. Grady would win the opening round which was only the second time in the last 30 years that an East player advanced.

Considering the pandemic that impacted the state throughout the season, East coach Drew Hochman was proud of his team’s ability to battle through adversity.

“Going into the season I thought that we were going to do well, but then when it became, ‘This team is in quarantine, that team is in quarantine,’ it became kind of an unknown. We wanted to win the championship and the girls hung in there. It was a season of (uncertainty). This season I saw the girls passion and dedication come out, you saw the buy in, and they were all in it together. That was a big thing for the girls,” said Hochman.

Hochman was especially proud of his senior leaders who helped steer the ship.

Experience was key for this unit, especially so in the final weekend of regular season action.

The Bolts were set to face Pilgrim on a Friday and then wrap up its regular season the following Saturday. Each match carried big playoff implications.

Midway through the Friday night match against Pilgrim, the sun set, causing the teams to postpone the remainder of the match until the following day due to the darkness. The postponement forced the Bolts to essentially play a doubleheader that Saturday and the state qualifiers on Sunday.

East rose to the occasion, won each match, then saw three players qualify for the state tournament in a span of 48 hours.

“The hard work and the dedication they had to each other and just their passion for the game of tennis. Going out there and leaving it all on the court. That weekend, with everything going on, they didn’t take anything home with them. They could have easily said, ‘We’re done,’ but they didn’t. I would say that was (their defining moment). The start of the season showed me that the girls were ready to go, but having to play three matches in 24 hours, it shouldn’t be like that, but they pulled it off,” said Hochman.

Hochman felt what led to the team’s success and improvement over the season prior was its chemistry. It was the first time since the seniors were freshmen that they made the postseason, which helped energize the entire group.

“(They improved) everywhere, not just in individual play but as teammates. Picking each other up, making sure they were ready to go. Them coming together as a whole and as a team, being there for each other. That led to them putting the time and effort into their skills. I wish more people would come out for matches because you would see the difference in their skill and passion,” said Hochman.

The Bolts will face a tough challenge next season, losing eight of its 10 starters. Hochman hopes that the returners will use this experience to their advantage and that this team’s big year will help garner more interest in the sport throughout the city.

“Next year and the foreseeable future, it’s going to be a rebuild. We don’t draw a lot of numbers so hopefully this season will draw people out of the woodwork,” said Hochman. “What I learned was to have the patience with non tennis players because ultimately I just want the kids to have fun. I want to see the team grow together and not worry so much about the wins and losses. Hopefully that culture carries over into next season.”