The Middlesex Girls' Varsity Tennis team lost in a heartbreaker match against Milton Academy 7 - 8 Wednesday afternoon. Overall, it was a good day for the Zebras, and our athletes from top to bottom felt they played up and gained good experience from the match to take with them against future opponents.

The Zebras' singles lineup was again led by senior captain Maud McCole at #1. Despite being off to a challenging start, freshman Neha Kommineni found a consistent groove in her second set to capture the point for her team. Seasoned veteran Averill Emery '20 played an athletic and strategic match, showing superior fitness and tactics to keep her opponent on the move. She won both sets 6-3, 6-2. Due to an unfortunate injury, Milton's #5 singles player had to stop and forfeit her points to Middlesex's Jessie Andrews '21. 

That meant the match was still in contention for the tightest contest with the Mustangs in recent memory. We would need to win all three doubles points to clinch the team victory, and our pairings started out determined. The doubles teams played aggressive, strategic matches. Kommineni/Emery and Andrews/Margaret Rand '19 were able to secure points at #2 & #3 doubles in closely fought contests. Our #1 doubles team played a commendable match but struggled against their fast, powerful, and highly credentialed opponents. 

The Zebras know they still have work to do and will put in two focused practices before traveling to Thayer to face the Tigers this Saturday.