Photos by David Fierro: From left to right: Greenwich High School senior captains Yume Inagawa, Emme Pecorin and Izzy Everett on the Cardinals’ Senior Day against Brien McMahon on May 15, 2025. Greenwich won the match, 7-0.

A 7-0 Senior Day victory against Brien McMahon put the finishing touch on an undefeated regular season for Greenwich High School’s girls tennis team, which won the FCIAC West Division title and is now primed to added two more championships to its collection.

The defending CIAC Class LL Tournament champion Cardinals, who placed second at the FCIAC Tournament last season, begin competition in the conference tournament Tuesday (May 20) as the No. 1 seed after producing a spectacular 15-0 regular season.

The top-seeded Cardinals will host eighth-seeded Ridgefield in the FCIAC Tournament quarterfinals on May 20 and should they advance, will also play host to their opponent in the semifinal-round on May 22. The championship match of the FCIAC tourney is scheduled to take place May 28 at Wilton High School.

“I’m really excited, I’ve been looking forward to FCIACs and states,” said Yume Inagawa, a senior captain who plays at No. 1 doubles for GHS. “The season is always fun, but the postseason is the best. It’s the most exciting.”

Greenwich defeated rival Staples for the CIAC Class LL Tournament championship in 2024 and was edged by New Canaan in the title match of the FCIAC Tournament one season ago. The Cardinals are aiming to win their first FCIAC championship since the 2012 season.

“Our goal now is to continue winning throughout the postseason,” said Izzy Everett, a senior captain, who competes at third singles for the Cards. “We were runner-up in FCIACs, our goal is to win both of those tournaments and bring them home this year.”

Greenwich’s 7-0 Senior Day victory against Brien McMahon on May 15, marked the ninth match in a row that it defeated an opponent by a 7-0 score. Of their 15 matches so far this spring, the Cardinals have won 12 by a 7-0 count.

In the No. 1 singles match against the Senators, junior Shining Sun was victorious again for GHS. Sun posted a 6-1, 6-0 win over McMahon’s Ashlee Coloma.

“I was trying out different things during this match, with FCIACs, states and individuals coming up and there are a lot of good singles players,” Sun said. “I have been working on using more variety, so I have more things to use.”

Sun has helped set the tone of the Cardinals’ singles lineup each match, providing consistent, effective play at the No. 1 singles spot.

“My attacking speed has definitely improved, especially from last year,” she said. “I’m able to step in and I’m able to neutralize or take advantage of the shot a lot more.”

Playing at first singles, Sun knows she will be challenged throughout the postseason tournaments.

“It’s going to be really fun, it’s an opportunity to learn,” Sun said. “Win or lose, I always get to play against good players.”

At No. 2 singles, Caitlin Mahoney kept her dominant season going for the Cards. Mahoney registered a 6-0, 6-0 win over Brien McMahon’s Paul Rosales at the second singles spot. Third singles saw senior captain Izzy Everett produce the same results.

Everett was a 6-0, 6-0 winner for GHS against Samantha Abella. Indeed, Greenwich has displayed standout play throughout the season versus each opponent it has faced.

“I think we’ve really grown as a team,” Everett said. “We’ve really bonded together throughout the season and we’re excited to continue it through the postseason.”

“We’re definitely very appreciative of our team dynamic and supportive of each other,” Everett continued. “That definitely helps us to keep winning.”

In the No. 4 singles match, Abigail Vandervoorn, also a senior, was a straight wet winner for Greenwich, winning her matchup, 6-1, 6-0.

In doubles action, Inagawa and sophomore Cameron Sowter remained undefeated for the season at the No. 1 position. Inagawa and Sowter won their match at the top spot against Zoe Ingber/Devi Nangea, 6-0, 6-0.

“We’ve been getting win after win and we’ve been playing well,” Inagawa said. “Cameron was out for a couple of days, I was out for a couple of days, so it was nice to be back together. We both played well, we are the perfect combination.”

Inagawa and Sowter won the doubles championship at the 2024 CIAC Invitational Tournament.

“The season has been great, me and Yume are still undefeated and I feel like each match gives us a chance to work on things,” Sowter said. “We work really well together and I’m excited to see what comes next.”

The postseason is next for Greenwich and the squad’s top doubles team is ready for the best the competiton has to offer.

“We know we are going to play tough matches, but we’ve had previous years before and that went really well,” Sowter noted. “Our season so far has gone super well, so we’re confident enough to win it.”

Senior captain Emme Pecorin and junior Maddy Wilber were in their usual top form on their way to posting a 6-0, 6-0 victory over their Brien McMahon opponents at second doubles. In the No. 3 doubles match, Clara Sibley/Quinn Campinell also won their match in impressive fashion, 6-0, 6-0.

“Emme and I have been playing better than ever because we’ve known each other for the longest time,” Wilber noted. “I have been playing with her since I was a freshman and she was a sophomore, so it’s been a long time that we’ve been working together.”

The Cardinals realize they must keep their focus in their upcoming matches to achieve what they want to in the postseason tournaments.

“Part of it is not getting ahead of yourself, staying in the moment and just going one step at a time and one point at a time,” Wilber said.

Adding to the significance of capping their regular season undefeated was the fact that the Cardinal did so while celebrating their special Senior Day.

“This is my fourth year and it’s been an amazing experience and I wouldn’t change it for the world,” Pecorin said. “It’s been a really great season and everyone has been working really hard and playing well. In our doubles matches, we’ve played a lot of different playing styles and we’ve been trying to adapt and have been doing so.”

Also this week, Greenwich swept Fairfield Warde, 7-0, in Fairfield on May 13. Sun won her match at No. 1, 6-4, 6-3, Mahoney (No. 2) was victorious in straight sets (6-0, 6-2), Everett (No. 3) was a 6-0, 6-1 winner and Elin Ever (No. 4) posted a 6-1, 6-0 victory.

Inagawa/Sowter (No. 1) were victorious against Warde, 6-0, 6-2, Pecorin/Wilber were 6-0, 6-0 winners at No. 2 and Oliva Popp/Bella Barban topped their foes, 6-1, 6-0, at No. 3 doubles.