After their undefeated start to the season, the girls’ tennis team found themselves playing against the Churchill Bulldogs on Friday, April 10.

Churchill also came into the match undefeated, going 4-0 in their first four matches. The match was primed to be close, and it was.

In singles, junior Mia Milicevic lost in straight sets as the number one singles. Senior Sky Carter and sophomore Marie Boy each came very close, but both of them lost in three sets against their respective opponents. In the number four singles, freshman Ava Sharifai won in straight sets for WJ.

“The Churchill match, it was very competitive. I feel like I tried to play too safe towards the end, so that’s why I ended up losing. But it was a very good match, very competitive,” Carter said.

Despite losing three matches in singles, the Cats had more success in doubles. Number two doubles pair junior Mirnam Elag and freshman Zoe Rojas along with number three pair sophomore Alyssa Thoms and sophomore Elizabeth Martin won in straight sets. However, the number one pair junior Angela Lynch and sophomore Emma Aivazov lost in three sets (3-6, 6-2, 1-6).

“We lost the first set, and then came back in the second set and won by a lot in that set. Third set we lost, but it was a hot day and we kinda lost our energy by the third set,” Lynch said.

The final score was 4-3 Churchill. There were three matches that went to three sets, and Churchill won all three of them, resulting in the 4-3 win.

“Unfortunately [the team] lost 3-4, but we put up a really good fight. Me and Alyssa learned a little more [as the game went on], and you can tell because we won 7-5 and 6-2. Team-wise we’re supporting each other, and I think that’s how we win,” Martin said.

Two days after the Churchill match, the Cats got back on track and beat Richard Montgomery at home by 6-1

“It was windy so it was a bit tough to play. But once we adjusted, we were able to get the hang of it,” Lynch said.

The team then served up another 6-1 win against the Wootton Patriots on Monday, May 15. Despite the outlier with the Churchill loss, the Cats have started out the season on a high note.

“I feel like the team is doing well this season, there’s a lot of strong players. We do have ups and downs, but I feel like we’re very close, and it’ll be a good season,” Carter said.

The Cats look to keep up their 5-1 start, as they travel to Damascus on April 16, followed by home matches against Poolesville on April 17 and Whitman on April 19.