Greenwich edged by New Canaan in championship match of CIAC Class LL Girls Tennis Tournament at Wesleyan

By David Fierro on June 3, 2023 • ( Leave a comment )

**Photo by Ally Shaule**: Members of the Greenwich High School girls varsity tennis team gather with coach Julie Shropshire after they placed second at the CIAC Class LL Girls Tennis Tournament. The Cardinals lost to New Canaan in the finals.

The 2023 season was, indeed, one to remember for the Greenwich High School girls tennis team, which showed significant improvement from last spring, emerging as one of the premier squads in the state.

The Cardinals registered a record of 16-0 during the regular season, earning the No. 1 seed in the FCIAC Tournament, where they advanced to the tourney’s semifinal-round. In the CIAC Class LL Tournament, Greenwich, seeded-second, swept its first three opponents to advance to the championship match against rival New Canaan.

Thursday’s Class LL final saw Greenwich lose to New Canaan, 4-2, at Wesleyan University’s tennis courts in Middletown. The championship showdown against the Rams capped a season in which the Cardinals posted a highly impressive record of 20-2 and made it to the state title match for the first time since 2016.

“Words cannot express how proud I am of our girls for the effort they put in during this final tennis match against New Canaan,” said Greenwich coach Julie Shropshire, who has been at the helm since 2020. “They fought with every ounce of energy they had and left everything on the court.”

**Photo by Ally Shaule**: Greenwich High School girls varsity tennis coach Julie Shropshire accepts the plaque after the team placed second at the CIAC Class LL Girls Tennis Tournament, while members of the team gather. The Cardinals played New Canaan in the title match at Wesleyan University in Middletown on June 1, 2023.

“It was a close match and we came up just short, but our girls played with heart, determination, and sportsmanship until the very end,” Shropshire continued. “I couldn’t have asked for more from them, and I’m grateful to have such a dedicated and passionate team.”

The Class LL championship match at Wesleyan saw the Cardinals receive victories at fourth singles and third doubles. Junior Malena Schraa of Greenwich concluded her outstanding season with a 6-1, 7-4 win at No. 4 singles against New Canaan junior Annuka Khurana.

**Photo by Ally Shaule**: Emme Pecorin, left and Maddy Wilber of Greenwich gather after they won their No. 3 doubles match in the CIAC Class LL Girls Tennis Tournament final against New Canaan at Wesleyan University’s tennis courts in Middletown.

“Malena had a decisive two-set win,” Shropshire said. “In the first set, Malena was the more offensive of the two and won that set easily. In the second set, her opponent started hitting bigger shots to make it a closer match. Malena served for the win with a couple of aces to give us our first win.”

At third doubles, GHS sophomore Emme Pecorin and freshman Maddie Wilber provided another clutch win. Pecorin/Wilber were victorious versus Rams sophomore Amy Meng and junior Christina Carr, 6-3, 6-0.

“They started down in the first set, but refocused and went for their shots, chasing everything down,” Shropshire said of the squad’s winning No. 3 doubles team.

**Photo by Ally Shaule**: Greenwich High School’s girls tennis team during pre-match introductions at the state tennis finals.

At No. 1 singles, Cardinals junior Kyra Dybas was involved in a tight match against New Canaan senior Lexi McCall. Dybas took the opening set, 7-5, McCall won the second set, 6-3 and the third set was tied at 3-3 when the Rams clinched the title match with their fourth victory.

“Kyra Dybas started really strong,” Shropshire noted. “She was very consistent, but at the same time went for her shots and was very aggressive.”

Said Dybas: “It was a really close match and Lexi and I both had to fight really hard for each point. It was a challenge but staying positive helped me stay focused.”

**Photo by Ally Shaule**: Liza Sieghaart of New Canaan, left and Shining Sun of Greenwich greet each other prior to the state championship match at the CIAC Class LL Tournament at Wesleyan University’s courts in Middletown.

The No. 2 singles match between Cardinals freshman Shining Sun and Rams junior Liza Sieghart was also a close matchup. Sun notched a 6-4 win in the first set, dropped the second set, 6-3 and Sieghart took the third set and the match, 6-0.

“Shining had a great start and fought until the end,” Shropshire noted. “They split sets and she lost in the third. All the games were really close with really long points. Ultimately her opponent’s experience in these kinds of matches came to help her. She was able to use the crowd’s energy to pick her game up.”

Junior Lilly Foley of Greenwich, who like Sun, was a consistent force in the singles lineup throughout the season, competed against Rams freshman Aaciya Sonthonnax at third singles. Sonthonnax was victorious, 6-1, 6-2.

“Lilly played someone very similar to her,” Shropshire said. “Despite great play by Lilly, her opponent was able to get everything back, which put a lot of pressure on Lilly to have to do more. It was another well- deserved win by New Canaan. Lilly stayed positive, going for big shots and coming to the net.”

**Photo provided by Ally Shaule**: Kyra Dybas, far left and Shining Sun, center, in action for Greenwich at the Class LL final.

At No. 1 doubles in the state championship match, Cards senior Julia Tamis and junior Emily Weinstein went up against New Canaan senior Serena Platt and junior Layla Zuwiyya. The Rams’ duo earned a 6-1, 6-3 triumph.

Like their doubles teammates, Tamis and Weinstein sparked the Cardinals throughout the successful season. Junior Claire Pellegrino and freshman Camryn Lee of New Canaan won their match against sophomore Yume Inagawa and freshman Caitlin Mahoney of the Cardinals, 6-2, 6-3, at second doubles in the finals. Inagawa and Mahoney enjoyed a winning season in their first year teaming up in doubles competition.

The victory gave New Canaan its 22nd state championship. Greenwich, which last won the state title in 2009, was vying for its 11th state tournament championship.

**Photo by Ally Shaule**: Greenwich coach Julie Shropshire meets with doubles players Yume Inagawa, left and Caitlin Mahoney during the CIAC Class LL Girls Tennis Tournament finals at Wesleyan University.

The Cardinals captured the state tennis title in 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 1999, 1997, 1996, 1995, 1990 and 1989. This season, of Greenwich’s 16 regular-season wins, 12 were by a score of 7-0. They also won three matches by a score of 6-1.

“This had been a very successful season,” Shropshire said. “Last year, we lost in the first round. To come in second in the state still leaves us a lot to be proud of.”