Keith Carson could see a season’s worth of work showing in how his team played.
The first-year Brookline girls’ tennis coach came in with first-year assistant Chris Ferrara, planning to bring stability to a team that has had three sets of coaches and assistants in three years.
On Thursday, his 13th-seeded Warriors earned a 4-1 victory over visiting Natick in a Division 1 first-round matchup of Bay State Conference rivals at Waldstein Park. Brookline advances to a second-round match against fourth-seeded Wellesley, another Bay State foe, on Monday.
“The singles players are hitting very high quality, low margin of error shots, and winning points, moving their opponent around, dictating the points, and using all their shots,” Carson said. “They’re using all those tools. That’s what we started working on the very first day.”
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Brookline (13-6) earned wins everywhere except first singles. Riley Ament, the only starting sophomore, registered the first win of the day at second singles 6-0, 6-1.
“I think my forehand and my serve were pretty good today,” said Ament, who has been playing competitively since she was 12. “I tried to focus on my technique, getting in the right position, and trying to anticipate what she would do.”
Senior Lilly Feldman and junior Samme Ash came away with a 6-3, 6-3 win at first doubles, juniors Simrah Bawa and Summer Ash took a 6-2, 6-2 win at second doubles, and then Ali Vaivare finished the day with a 6-0, 6-2 decision at third singles.
“I tried to make sure I take a breath in between each point to make sure I don’t go overboard on the exhaustion,” Vaivare said. “I think I played well, hitting the ball side to side, trying to make her run because of the heat.”
For No. 20 Natick freshman Grace Zhang won 6-0, 6-2, and finished 16-0, dropping only 20 games all year.
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Earlier in the day, Natick coach Jerry Daly informed Zhang that she had been named Bay State Carey MVP.
“It’s been really great,” said Zhang, who has been playing since she was 8. “I’m really happy I decided to play because it’s given me so many good experiences. I just really loved playing this season.”
Carson said he voted Zhang for MVP because he felt she deserved it.
“Grace is a very solid player. Every part of her game is polished,” Carson said. “To beat her, you have to really be on the top of your game and hitting all of your shots . . . That’s really hard for any player to do.”
The Redhawks (8-9) graduated five starters from last year’s team, but an influx of young players and Zhang’s success bode well for the future. Seventeen of their 22 players are underclassmen.
“It’s really great,” Zhang said. “It gives a lot of hope for the future. I’ve made a lot of friends.”
Division 1 State
Central Catholic 4, Belmont 1 — Kaya Asmar delivered a comeback win at third singles (4-6, 6-3, 6-2), and Alessandra Sacchetti and Brooke Hillis battled to a thrilling win at first doubles (5-7, 7-6 [7-1], 7-5), lifting the 16th-seeded Raiders (11-3) to a first round win.
Wellesley 5, North Quincy 0 — Freshman Shea Welburn (6-1, 6-0) and seniors Elena Chase and Katharine Wells (6-0, 6-0) remained perfect on the season at third singles and second doubles, respectively, for the fourth-seeded Raiders (19-1).
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Division 2 State
Duxbury 5, Amherst-Pelham 0 — The eighth-seeded Dragons (16-5) earned a smooth victory over the No. 25 Hurricanes (8-9) to set up a round of 16 clash with No. 9 Westwood. Annabel Keating prevailed, 6-1, 6-0, at No. 2 singles; Luna Porciatti cruised, 6-0, 6-0, at No. 3 singles; and Catherine Driscoll and Natalie Shepler won, 6-0, 6-1, at No. 2 doubles in a complete, all-around effort.
Marblehead 3, Milton 2 — Charly Cooper notched a third singles win (6-1, 6-0) for the No. 20 Magicians (14-5) in the first-round win.
Masconomet 5, Nashoba 0 — Senior Kendall Skulley ruled at first singles (6-1, 6-0) for the No. 4 Chieftains (16-0) in the first-round win.
Division 3 State
North Reading 3, Latin Academy/East Boston/O’Bryant 2 — Mary Bonzagni and Bhagyavi Bandara (6-1, 6-4) pulled through at second doubles for the 13th-seeded Hornets (11-10) to clinch a first-round victory.
Division 4 State
Ipswich 4, Rockport 1 — Freshman Abbie Allen notched a second singles win (6-2, 6-1) for the No. 11 Tigers (7-7) in the first-round win.
Boys’ tennis
Division 1 State
Brookline 5, Central Catholic 0 — Sophomore Deven Devaiah locked up first singles for the undefeated No. 1 Warriors (20-0) in the first-round win.
St. John’s Prep 5, Durfee 0 — Senior Paul Neal won at first singles, 6-1, 6-0, and sophomore Jack Prokopis locked up second singles (6-0, 6-0) for the No. 2 Eagles (18-1) in the first-round win.
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Division 2 State
Duxbury 5, Masconomet 0 — The top-seeded Dragons (19-1) cruised past the No. 33 Chieftains (9-8) in the first round. Tim Vargas won, 6-0, 6-0, at No. 1 singles; Colby Hall prevailed, 6-0, 6-0, at No. 2 singles; and Adam Sohmer and Davis Stapleton delivered, 6-0, 6-0, at No. 2 doubles to help lead the way. Duxbury will face No. 16 Melrose in the round of 16.
Melrose 3, North Quincy 2 — Freshman Daniel Teittinen rallied for a key 2-6, 6-3, 6-3 win at second singles for the No. 16 Redhawks (11-7) in a first-round win.
Division 4 State
Nantucket 4, Seekonk 1 — Henry Rathawaza and Hunter Gross secured first doubles (6-0, 6-0) and Aidan Sullivan and Hawkin Edwardes lock up second doubles (6-0, 6-0) for the No. 7 Whalers (9-6) in the first-round win.
Westport 3, Sandwich 2 — Brady Silva notched the third singles win (6-3, 6-1) for the No. 18 Wildcats (8-7) in the first-round win.
Correspondents Mitch Fink and Zachary Lyons and Craig Larson of the Globe Staff contributed to this story.
AJ Traub can be reached at aj.traub@globe.com.