The Hopedale Blue Raiders girls’ tennis team earned the No. 26 seed in the Division 4 state tournament after finishing 9–6 in league play and 11–8 overall. Although they closed the regular season with three consecutive losses, 5–0 to Algonquin and Sutton, then 3–2 at Auburn, those defeats came against fellow playoff teams, underscoring the strength of their schedule. Now, Hopedale faces a significant challenge in the first round: visiting No. 7 Ipswich, which posted a 12–4 record and recently swept Gloucester 5–0. The Minutemen boast strong singles talent and disciplined doubles units, meaning the Blue Raiders will need to bring their top game in every match. Hopedale relies on crisp serving, smart court positioning, and the ability to extend rallies with relentless defense. If Hopedale’s top singles players can grab early leads and their doubles teams can execute under pressure, the Raiders stand a chance to pull off the upset. In varsity sports, upsets happen when the underdog seizes momentum, and Hopedale will certainly be fighting to make that happen at Ipswich.
