The WRA Girls Varsity Tennis team traveled to Erie, Pennsylvania, on Thursday to take on the talented Cathedral Prep Ramblers at the Salata Tennis Center. After a grueling 2-hour, 24-minute match filled with back-and-forth battles, the Pioneers emerged with a hard-fought 5-0 victory, extending their winning streak to nine matches to open the season.

WRA's No. 1 doubles team of senior co-captain Lela Yajnik '27 and Sasha Hillard '29 set the tone early with a convincing 6-3, 6-1 victory over Ellen and Elizabeth Hutchinson. The duo jumped out to an early lead and pulled away to secure the first team point.

The match remained 1-0 for nearly another hour as the remaining four courts battled through competitive sets. At the 90-minute mark, senior co-captain Sia Mahesh '27 delivered a strong 6-3, 6-4 victory at No. 3 singles over Lydia Beuchert to give WRA a 2-0 advantage.

Shortly after, the No. 2 doubles team of Rae Davila '30 and Bella Arakaki '28 clinched the team victory with a tight 6-3, 7-6(4) win over Rory Brugger and Eliza Kalner.

With the team win secured, WRA's top two singles players continued battling to complete the sweep. At No. 1 singles, Catie Cunningham '29 recovered from a first-set loss and rallied from a 3-0 deficit in the third set to defeat Cathedral Prep standout Paige Patsy, 2-6, 6-1, 7-6(0). Cunningham then dominated the third-set tiebreaker, winning it 7-0.

At No. 2 singles, Dorothy Mendelson '30 also found herself in a hard-fought battle with Ella Fetzner. Mendelson stayed composed down the stretch, putting together a strong final 15 minutes to earn a 6-1, 5-7, 6-4 victory and complete the 5-0 sweep.

The Pioneers' latest win was a true team effort, with every court contributing to a memorable road victory over a strong Cathedral Prep squad.

WRA will look to make it 10 straight wins when the Girls Varsity Tennis team returns home Friday, September 11, to host Laurel. Match time is 4:30 p.m.

Final: WRA 5, Cathedral Prep 0

Singles

• 1S: Catie Cunningham '29 def. Paige Patsy, 2-6, 6-1, 7-6(0)
• 2S: Dorothy Mendelson '30 def. Ella Fetzner, 6-1, 5-7, 6-4
• 3S: Sia Mahesh '27 def. Lydia Beuchert, 6-3, 6-4

Doubles

• 1D: Lela Yajnik '27 / Sasha Hillard '29 def. Ellen Hutchinson / Elizabeth Hutchinson, 6-3, 6-1
• 2D: Rae Davila '30 / Bella Arakaki '28 def. Rory Brugger / Eliza Kalner, 6-3, 7-6(4)