After opening the year with 16 straight victories, the WRA Girls Varsity Tennis team faced one of its toughest challenges yet—an undefeated Shady Side Academy squad in Fox Chapel, Pennsylvania. In a three-hour showdown filled with long rallies and high-level play, the host Bulldogs edged the Pioneers 5–0, handing WRA its first loss of the 2025 season.
The match was far closer than the score indicated. The Bulldogs took the opening point at #3 singles after 90 minutes of play, as senior Nadia Kischke '26 battled hard before falling 6–2, 6–2 to Shady Side's Sylvie Will. Meanwhile, at #1 singles, senior co-captain Denisse Jimenez Robles '26 captured the first set 6–3 against Bulldog ace Cassie Lapina, keeping the Pioneers energized and in the fight as other matches stretched deep into the afternoon.
At #2 doubles, Riya Patel '26 and Carina Tang '28 turned in a strong performance but narrowly dropped both sets, 6–4, 6–4, against a steady Shady Side pairing. On the adjacent court, freshman Rithi Hegde '29 delivered one of her best matches of the season, rallying to take the second set and force a third before falling 6–1, 3–6, 6–1 at #2 singles—clinching the overall match for the Bulldogs after two and a half hours of play.
Even with the result decided, the Pioneers kept fighting. Jimenez Robles pushed her match to a third set before Lapina ultimately prevailed 3–6, 6–2, 6–2. At #1 doubles, junior Lela Yajnik '27 and freshman Sasha Hillard '29 refused to back down, rallying from the brink to win the second set in a tiebreaker before dropping a thrilling three-setter, 6–3, 6–7(5), 6–4.
Despite the loss, the Pioneers left Fox Chapel proud of their effort and level of play against one of Pennsylvania's premier programs.
WRA will look to rebound quickly when they travel to face Massillon Jackson on Monday, October 6, at 4:15 p.m.
Box Score
Shady Side Academy (PA) 5 – Western Reserve Academy 0
Fox Chapel, PA | October 3, 2025
Singles
1S: Cassie Lapina (SSA) d. Denisse Jimenez Robles (WRA) 3–6, 6–2, 6–2
2S: Brooke Henderson (SSA) d. Rithi Hegde (WRA) 6–1, 3–6, 6–1
3S: Sylvie Will (SSA) d. Nadia Kischke (WRA) 6–2, 6–2
Doubles
1D: Merkel/Shanefelter (SSA) d. Yajnik/Hillard (WRA) 6–3, 6–7(5), 6–4
2D: Rubinov/Butera (SSA) d. Patel/Tang (WRA) 6–4, 6–4
Order of Finish: 3S, 2D, 2S, 1S, 1D*
(Clinching Point)
Time of Match: 2:51 | Attendance: 37
