The Western Reserve Academy girls varsity tennis team traveled to Philadelphia, Pa., on Saturday and turned in an outstanding performance at the Atlantic Prep Invitational, finishing runner-up in a strong four-team field hosted by The Episcopal Academy.

Reserve finished with 21 points, just two points behind tournament champion Episcopal Academy, which totaled 23. Sidwell Friends School finished third with 15 points, followed by Agnes Irwin School with 11.

Co-captain Lela Yajnik '27 and Sasha Hillard '29 led the way for the Pioneers, going undefeated to capture the gold medal in the No. 1 Doubles flight. The duo opened with a 4-0, 4-0 victory over Sidwell Friends before edging Episcopal Academy 5-4(5), 4-5(5), 11-9 in a thrilling three-set battle. They completed their perfect day with a 4-1, 5-3 win over Agnes Irwin.

Reserve also earned three runner-up finishes in singles competition. Rithi Hegde '29, Catie Cunningham '29, and Dorothy Mendelson '30 each finished second in their respective singles flights.

Hegde split her three matches, falling to Sara Abouzeid of Sidwell Friends in a 0-4, 4-0, 10-2 decision before earning wins over Episcopal's Gwen Morris, 4-5(9), 5-4(5), 10-5, and Agnes Irwin's Emerson Cross, 4-0, 4-1.

Cunningham also finished 2-1, defeating Episcopal's Rebecca Xu 5-3, 4-2, and Agnes Irwin's Sophie Aliakseyenka 4-0, 4-1 after opening the flight with a 4-1, 4-1 loss to Sidwell's Honor Saxe.

Mendelson posted two victories, defeating Sidwell's Ariana Tavakkol 4-0, 5-3 and Agnes Irwin's Avie Assag 4-1, 4-0. Her lone loss came against Episcopal's Laya Joyce, 4-0, 4-1.

The Pioneers added another runner-up finish at No. 2 Doubles, where Sia Mahesh '27 and Bella Arakaki '28 went 2-1. They defeated Sidwell's Allessandra Perrus and Sydney Seay-Lee 4-2, 4-1, fell to Episcopal's Lila Walls and Olivia 4-1, 4-0, and closed with a 4-1, 4-2 victory over Agnes Irwin's Harper Kiss and Dwyer Corrigan.

At No. 4 Doubles, Chloe Paturel '29 and Kate Morgan '29 also finished runner-up. The pair opened with a 5-4, 4-1 victory over the Sidwell/ Episcopal combination of Molly McLonaghan and Catherine Walsh. After falling to Episcopal's Mia Joyce and Katherine Walsh 4-0, 4-2, the Pioneers finished strong with a 3-5, 4-2, 10-7 win over Agnes Irwin's Clair Hollender and Davis Ashdown.

Siena Lamie '30 and Raelayn Davila '30 represented WRA at No. 3 Doubles and finished third, contributing the final points needed to secure the team's runner-up finish. After close losses to Sidwell and Episcopal, including an 11-9 deciding set against Episcopal's Natalie Jiang and Elize Cahill, the Pioneers closed with a 4-2, 5-4(2) victory over Agnes Irwin's Shayna Bijlani and Naomi Lee.

The combination of individual consistency, clutch doubles play, and depth throughout the lineup allowed WRA to finish with 21 team points and challenge for the tournament title until the end.

Atlantic Prep Invitational Team Results

1. The Episcopal Academy (PA) — 23 points

2. Western Reserve Academy (OH) — 21 points

3. Sidwell Friends School (DC) — 15 points

4. Agnes Irwin School (PA) — 11 points

WRA Match Results

No. 1 Singles — Rithi Hegde '29

• Lost to Sara Abouzeid (SF), 0-4, 4-0, 10-2

• Defeated Gwen Morris (EA), 4-5(9), 5-4(5), 10-5

• Defeated Emerson Cross (AI), 4-0, 4-1

No. 2 Singles — Catie Cunningham '29

• Lost to Honor Saxe (SF), 4-1, 4-1

• Defeated Rebecca Xu (EA), 5-3, 4-2

• Defeated Sophie Aliakseyenka (AI), 4-0, 4-1

No. 3 Singles — Dorothy Mendelson '30

• Defeated Ariana Tavakkol (SF), 4-0, 5-3

• Lost to Laya Joyce (EA), 4-0, 4-1

• Defeated Avie Assag (AI), 4-1, 4-0

No. 1 Doubles — Lela Yajnik '27 / Sasha Hillard '29

• Defeated Ria Deshmukh/Sienna Morigi (SF), 4-0, 4-0

• Defeated Kayla Krasnick/Sophie Liu (EA), 5-4(5), 4-5(5), 11-9

• Defeated Bebe Bullitt/Bridget Bower (AI), 4-1, 5-3

No. 2 Doubles — Sia Mahesh '27 / Bella Arakaki '28

• Defeated Allessandra Perrus/Sydney Seay-Lee (SF), 4-2, 4-1

• Lost to Lila Walls/Olivia (EA), 4-1, 4-0

• Defeated Harper Kiss/Dwyer Corrigan (AI), 4-1, 4-2

No. 3 Doubles — Siena Lamie '30 / Raelayn Davila '30

• Lost to Reya Khanna/Catherine Yao (SF), 1-4, 5-4(6), 10-6

• Lost to Natalie Jiang/Elize Cahill (EA), 4-2, 2-4, 11-9

• Defeated Shayna Bijlani/Naomi Lee (AI), 4-2, 5-4(2)

No. 4 Doubles — Kate Morgan '29 / Chloe Paturel '29

• Defeated Molly McLonaghan/Catherine Walsh (SF/EA), 5-4, 4-1

• Lost to Mia Joyce/Katherine Walsh (EA), 4-0, 4-2

• Defeated Clair Hollender/Davis Ashdown (AI), 3-5, 4-2, 10-7

The Pioneers return home Tuesday, Sept. 22, to host St. Joseph Academy.