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As a refresher, the Winchester High girls tennis team finished up the regular season last spring with a 15-3 record, and was the eighth seed in the final Division 1 power rankings, setting the stage for a long run in the state tournament.
The team ended up going 3-1, before being eliminated by Wellesley (24-0, fourth seed) in the semifinals, 4-1. The Raiders then went on to beat Lexington (22-1, sixth seed) in the finals, 3-2.
Turning the page to this spring, it couldn’t get any better for the Red & Black, who remain undefeated after eight matches.
“It’s been a great start to our season,” said Coach Greg Lowder, who acknowledges the Middlesex League is getting even stronger, which only makes Winchester’s perfect record to date a significant accomplishment.
Andrea Bilic (Connecticut College); Daryana Skobeleva (Ohio’s Case Western Reserve University); Mia Lock (Colby College); and Cate Sheehan (Wake Forest University) are this year’s captains. Bilic and Skobeleva will also continue to play tennis at their respective colleges.
In the team’s most recent matches, they defeated Melrose (5-0, April 10), Arlington (5-0, April 13), Lexington (3-2, April 14) and Reading (4-1, April 16).
The Winchester girls set the tone for the season right away in the opener against Wellesley, while also avenging last year’s state tournament loss to the Bay State Conference school. They defeated the Raiders this time around, 4-1 on March 26.
“We (played) great against (host) Wellesley in our first match, and similarly against Lexington (prior to spring school vacation week),” said Lowder. “(Lexington) always brings out the best in us, and we were ready for them. We will play them again (on May 1), and we know they will be even tougher (at their place), so hopefully we can be up for the challenge, (once again).”
Lowder also singled out the reasons behind all of this success to date.
“(To begin with), first singles player Daryana (Skobeleva) has continued to carry our team,” he said, “and our doubles teams have also been pretty rock solid. I’m still amazed by the leadership of all five seniors – the aforementioned four captains, plus Laura Jiang – and how easily the new players have integrated themselves into the team. We have always had a really welcoming group, and this year is no different. The support system is so amazing.”
Debbie Simpson is the team’s assistant coach, and, according to Lowder, she’s been a perfect addition to the program.
“The girls really enjoy every little thing that she brings to the mix, and we all appreciate her contributions,” the head coach added.
In the Lexington match, Skobeleva and both doubles teams recorded the wins necessary to produce the close triumph.
Skobeleva, a senior captain, defeated Kiley Gallagher in first singles, 6-1, 6-2. Esha Bhalla and Kaiyal Kumaran took care of Allison Liu and Noon Akoad in first doubles, 6-0, 6-4. The second doubles team of Mia Lock and Sheehan topped Kaitlyn Ready and Eva Benet, 6-2, 6-3.
The Red & Black then headed into school vacation week with a satisfying win over the host Rockets. The top two singles players and once again the doubles teams accounted for the wins in Reading.
Skobeleva shutout Karina Olsen, 6-0, 6-0. In second singles, Bilic was credited with a straight sets triumph over Sachi Selvakumar, 6-3, 6-2. Claire McArdle and Bianca Andronesi came out on top against Leah Henneberry and Ayla Bruntil in first doubles, 6-4, 7-6 (8-6). Ava Navarra and Lauren Haney secured the second doubles victory versus Allie Kane and Lucy Farnum, 6-3, 6-3.
Looking to continue their perfect season, the Red & Black will be on the road next week against Middlesex League rivals Belmont (April 27, 4 p.m.), Wakefield (April 29, 4:15 p.m.) and Lexington (May 1, 4:15 p.m.).
Joe McConnell is a longtime, award-winning sports editor for numerous North Shore publications. He began covering Winchester sports for the News in November 2024 and is currently its Sports Editor. He can be reached at editor@winchesternews.org.
