Bishop Guertin's Maxx Lizotte gets ready to hit a backhand during Tuesday's Divison I prelim vs. Nashua North at BG. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)

NASHUA – Tom Lizotte knew somehow, some way this spring he’d end up seeing Bedford in the Division I boys tennis postseason.

“We’re always blessed with that kind of a draw,” the Bishop Guertin coach said tongue-in-cheek. “We’ve played Bedford for so many years … It’ll be exciting, I just hope it’s closer this year than the other times.”

The reason his No. 7 Cards (9-6) are at No. 2 Bedford on Thursday? They were able to beat a somewhat shorthanded Nashua North team 9-0 at home in Tuesday’s prelims.

North was without some seniors who were absent from school, but that at least gave Titans coach Andrew Dutton a chance to get some younger players some tournament experience. North finishes up at 5-9, but remember, a year ago they missed the postseason on the final day to play. Not this time – so that was a plus despite the loss.

“We made plans to have some of the younger guys come in,” said North coach Andrew Dutton said. “I thought it as a good year. The younger guys that are just starting out, are freshmen, sophomores staring and improved quite a bit throughout the year.”

Guertin just had too much experience yesterday as the Titans won only a total of seven games, led by one of those young players Dutton was talking about, Addy Veerendra, who fell 8-3 at No. 4 to BG’s Jonny Perrott.

Other BG winners were No. 1 Jack Kostansek (8-0), No. 2 Evan Deyak (8-0), No.3 Max Moynihan (8-1), No. 5 Maxx Lizotte (8-0) and No. 6 Charlie Dabrowski (8-1). Predictably the Cards’ doubles teams also cruised, Kostansek/Moynihan (8-1), Deyak/Lizotte (8-0) and Aiden Coffey/Brady Johnston (8-1).

Guertin may not have been able to do this two months ago. The Cards started the season out 0-4 with their first four matches vs. contenders Derryfield, Bedford, Londonderry and Exeter. But they only lost one on-court match, vs. Dover, since. Their sixth loss was a forfeit of a makeup with Hanover because most of the players were away for the holiday weekend and Sunday was the last day to play.

“We were kind of fortunate because I had the same starting lineup I had last year,” Lizotte said. “And I was hoping they’d improve, which they did. It was kind of a tough start to the season, because you get the four top teams bang-bang-bang, but then after that it was, alright, now we can get into a rhythm. …

“It’s the end of the season. These guys are now as good as they’re going to get from practicing all year.”

And that’s been the key for BG, the players didn’t run away from the 0-4 start.

“They’re another year older, and they’ve listened to some of the simple things you need to do to improve,” Lizotte said. “There’s no magic wand you can wave. It’s just hard work. A few of them really dug in and applied themselves, and are really starting to see the results of that.”

Imagine if the results include an upset win on Thursday.

Nashua North’s Addy Veerendra hits an off-balance shot during Tuesday’s Division I prelim at Bishop Guertin. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)