Old Lyme Girls’ Tennis Advance to 59 Consecutive Wins, Defeating Also Previously Unbeaten Stonington

Old Lyme Freshman Katherine Zhang clinched victory for the Wildcats when she won the final game of the day 6-4, 6-3. Her 4th singles game broke the 3-3 tie in the ‘Cats favor. Zhang is shown here receiving a well-deserved hug from 1st singles player Sam Tan (in blanket). All photos by Andrea Fenton.

OLD LYME / STONINGTON — The unbeaten Old Lyme girls team faced its toughest opponents to date on Tuesday. With a string of 58 consecutive wins behind them while also defending the Class S state championship for the second year in succession, the girls came out onto the courts at Stonington High School to meet the also unbeaten and defending Class M champions.

It was also Senior Send-Off Day and this extraordinary team is going to lose seven graduating seniors this year. They are pictured above, from left to right,
Alexis Fenton , Livie Bass, Sam Tan, Whitney Barbour, Callie Bass, Izzy Reynolds and not pictured Elsie Arafeh- Hudson. At front is coach Lauren Rahr, who is clearly showing her pride in the team.

This was going to be no walk in the park … or on the court …

Aggie and Beatrice Hunt celebrate their 6-1, 6-2 victory with coach Lauren Rahr.

At the end of the intense contest, Old Lyme were the victors by the slimmest of margins achieving a 4-3 win.

The Old Lyme victories came from Elaina Morosky in 2nd singles (6-2, 6-0), Alexis Fenton and Livie Bass in 1st doubles (6-3, 6-1), and Aggie Hunt and Beatrice Hunt in 2nd doubles (6-1, 6-2). At this point, the teams were drawn 3-3 and then Katherine Zhang played Emily Fulling in a highly competitive 4th singles game to break the tie when she pulled off a nail-biting 6-4, 6-3 win.

Elaina Morosky (left) won her 2nd singles game and is duly high-fived by 1st doubles player Alexis Fenton (in blue.)

The full results were as follows:

1st Singles:
Sam Tan Vs Grace Duggan 0-6, 1-6
2nd Singles:
Elaina Morosky vs Marcella Hamm 6-2, 6-0
3rd Singles:
Callie Bass vs Maddie Gonzalez 0-6, 3-6
4th Singles:
Katherine Zhang vs Emily Fulling 6-4, 6-3

Coach Lauren Rahr (front right) sits with her team as they watch 3rd doubles Izzy Reynolds and Natalie Buckley play their game.

1st Doubles:
Livie Bass / Alexis Fenton 6-3, 6-1
Katia Snegovskikh / Lauren Buckley
2nd Doubles:
Aggie Hunt/ Beatrice Hunt 6-1, 6-2
Misha Levandowski / Marina Levandowski
3rd Doubles:
Izzy Reynolds/Natalie Buckley 2-6, 3-6
Gwen McGuggan / Angelina Williams