Lobrano, Levenson Pace Stoughton High Boys' Tennis

The first doubles tandem of Alex Lobrano and Josh Levenson are off to a fast start this season for the Stoughton High boys’ tennis team, winning both of their matches last week.

The pair of senior captains beat their opponents from Norwood, 6-1, 6-0, in the season opener last Thursday on the road. They followed that up with another 6-1, 6-0 win at Foxborough on Friday.

The team lost to Norwood 4-1, with Lobrano and Levenson picking up the lone point for the Black Knights.

On Friday, Stoughton lost a close 3-2 decision to the Warriors, dropping to 0-2 on the season. The second doubles team of junior Joe Ialuna and sophomore Sheldon Oliveria picked up the other point against Foxborough, winning 6-2, 6-1.

This is the first time in four years that the Black Knights earned points at first and second doubles in the same match, according to head coach Matt Bernstein.

In the first two matches Bernstein went with a mix of juniors Ross Andler, Jeff Zeserson and Jermey Lim and sophomores Mike Paunker and Jalen Joseph at the three singles positions.

Bernstein is in his third year coaching the team. When he took over as coach, there was only one returning player, so he had to essentially build a team from scratch.

There have been growing pains—Stoughton has not won as a team (notching at least three individual victories in a single match) in four years, but Bernstein feels the team is taking steps in the right direction.

“We’re finally starting to make some progress [with] players getting experience,” Bernstein said, adding that the players are developing what they need to “get some wins on the board.”

Stoughton will look to snap their losing streak this season.

“The numbers are there, now is the time to win,” Bernstein said.

Stoughton, who will be on the road all season due to the , travels to Franklin on Monday and Randolph on Thursday.