Third singles senior Alice Daeschler won both of her sets on Tuesday's match, but lost both on Thursday. (Photo by Alec Kostival)

by Alec Kostival

The girls’ varsity tennis team had two matches last week, facing George School on Tuesday and Moorestown Friends School on Thursday.

On Tuesday, the girls rolled over George School, winning 5-0. Through three singles matches and two doubles matches, the girls didn’t drop a single set.

The first doubles team of senior Caroline Kavanagh and junior Marlie Golden had the most impressive showing of the day. They pulled off the elusive double bagel, winning both their sets 6-0 against Alyssa Malerman and Lauren Whyte.

“Today’s victory for first doubles was probably our most important match and probably the most important win,” said head coach Justin Gilmore.

Senior Toby Shore and sophomore Tsega Afessa, both second doubles players, also impressed, dropping only one game in their match. They won 6-1 and 6-0 over Abby Silver and Paige Andreassi, respectively.

In first singles, senior Lindsey Golden won her sets both 6-2 over Fiona Keith. The result was the same for junior Malana Li at second singles, winning 6-2 in both sets over Claire Heydacker. At third singles, senior Alice Daeschler won her sets 6-1 and 6-2 over Taking Schnitzer.

"Our whole squad came out today and played focused, attacking tennis, but I am particularly happy with how both of our doubles teams played,” Gilmore said. “Both of our doubles pairings continued to improve their confidence and communication, which should continue to give us momentum as we attempt to bring home this Friends League championship."

Thursday’s match was a different story. Moorsetown Friends School brought it against the GFS Tigers and won 5-0.

Moorestown won easily in first singles as Renna Mohsen-Breen defeated Lindsey Golden 6-0 in both sets. Malana Li didn’t have better luck in the second singles, losing 3-6 and 1-6 against Elena Styliades.

Third singles Alice Daeschler was able to put up a fight against Amanda Augustino, dropping her first set in a close score of 4-6. The second set wasn’t as close at a score of 2-6.

First doubles also had a tough time on the day, as Moorestown’s Sasha Zekavat and Margaux Fox defeated GFS’ Caroline Kavanagh and Marlie Golden 6-3 and 6-2, respectively.

Second doubles was the most highly contested match of the day. Toby Shore and Tsega Afessa found themselves playing about 30 minutes later than anyone else on the courts. In the first set, GFS lost to Liz Huettl and Bailey Butterworth in a close 5-7 score. In the second set, Shore and Afessa came back to win 6-4. The teams played a super tiebreaker. Although Shore and Afessa put up a tough fight, they ultimately dropped the tiebreaker 8-10.

“We lost 5-0 but I think it was a closer battle than that overall score might indicate and I feel like if and when we play this team again in the playoffs I think we have a shot at them,” Gilmore said with hope.

The win and loss move GFS to 3-5 overall and to 2-1 in the Friends School League.