The Whitinsville-Christian Crusaders capped a strong 13-4 regular season with a hard-fought first-round playoff matchup against No. 5 Belchertown. As the No. 28 seed in the Division 3 bracket, the Crusaders battled an Orioles squad that went 18-2 and routinely overpowered opponents all spring. Belchertown asserted control early, stringing together precision serves and dictating each rally. The Crusaders earned their lone point in a competitive match, but across both singles and doubles courts, the Orioles maintained the upper hand, moving their opponents off the ball and placing shots with pinpoint accuracy. Still, Whitinsville-Christian should take pride in the season-long improvements that earned them this berth: enhanced team chemistry, the successful integration of underclassmen into critical lineup spots, and a balanced attack that yielded the program’s best win total since they went 19-0 in 2021. Although the postseason run ended in a 4-1 loss, the experience of facing a top seed provides invaluable lessons in serve consistency, aggressive returns, and mental toughness under pressure. Nearly all contributors return next year, and offseason goals include sharpening first-strike returns, refining doubles positioning, and boosting physical conditioning. With veteran leadership setting the tone and young players gaining confidence, the Crusaders are well-positioned to convert that Round of 32 appearance into a playoff victory in 2026.
