Greenwich High varsity girls tennis team tops New Canaan, remains undefeated

By David Fierro on April 16, 2026 • ( Leave a comment )

**Photo by David Fierro:** Greenwich High School senior Shining Sun returns a shot during her match at No. 1 singles against New Canaan on April 14th, 2026, at Greenwich High School. The Cardinals won the match, 6-1.

The 2025 season couldn’t have been better, or more exciting, for the Greenwich High School varsity girls tennis team, which won the FCIAC and CIAC Class LL tournaments on its way to registering a perfect record of 22-0. A little less than a year later, the 2026 season is well underway and the Cardinals are soaring toward what they hope, is another season to remember.

Five matches into their season, the Cardinals are 5-0, with victories against FCIAC foes Fairfield Ludlowe, St. Joseph, Wilton, Bridgeport Central and New Canaan to their record. Greenwich hosted longtime rival Staples today (April 16th) in a rematch of the past two season’s CIAC Class LL Tournament final.

Greenwich was victorious against Staples in the 2025 CIAC Class LL title match and also defeated the Wreckers for the state championship in 2024. A storied tennis program, the Cardinals have 12 state championships to their resume and of course, have high hopes and expectations for their 2026 campaign.

The roster has changed quite a bit due to the graduation of a group of key contributors from last season’s championship squad, yet this GHS team is intent on continuing the program’s successful tradition.

**Photo by David Fierro**: Senior Caitlin Mahoney won her match at second singles for Greenwich vs. New Canaan.

“Our No. 1 priority is to have fun and have a positive environment where everyone feels like they belong and they can enjoy their time here,” said Greenwich senior Shining Sun, who like last season, is playing at the No. 1 singles spot for the Cards. “I also think that we can go really far this season as well. We have so many good players and everyone who is returning got so much better and I have complete faith in them.”

Coached by Jerry Sulli, Greenwich was successful at home against rival New Canaan High School on April 14, winning the match, 6-1. Greenwich won three out of the four singles matches and swept the three doubles matchups versus New Canaan.

At No. 2 singles, senior Caitlin Mahoney, who went undefeated at the second singles spot one season ago, continued her outstanding play against the Rams of New Canaan. Mahoney won her match against New Canaan’s Natalia Lundberg, 6-2, 6-1.

**Photo by David Fierro:** Greenwich’s Maddie Wilber, left and Sofia Rodriguez won their No. 1 doubles match vs. New Canaan.

“It went well, it’s really hot out, so this was the most heat we played in,” Mahoney said of her victory at No. 2 singles vs. New Canaan. “But I was happy with how I played. I tried moving my opponent from side to side.”

In the No. 3 singles match, Avery Li, who played at fourth singles one season ago, was victorious over New Canaan’s Alexandra Belov, 6-0, 6-2. At No. 4 singles, freshman Chloe Culver kept her fine first varsity season for the Cardinals going, winning her match for GHS, 7-6, 6-2.

Indeed, Greenwich has received impressive performances from its returning athletes as well as its first-season varsity players.

“We have a lot of new players on our team this year and everyone has meshed into the team super well,” Mahoney noted. “We’ve had a great start so far, so we’re hoping to continue that momentum for the rest of the season.”

**Photo by David Fierro**: Greenwich senior Caitlin Mahoney hits a backhand return during her victory vs. New Canaan.

In the No. 1 singles match between Greenwich and New Canaan, Leah Zhang of the Rams, one of the premier players in the state, posted a 7-5, 6-0 win over Sun of GHS. Sun enjoys filling the role at No. 1 singles.

“I always play a good player, which is good, because it challenges me to be better,” Sun said. “If I were to play a player who is not up to my level, I don’t really know what I need to work on. They make me challenge myself as well and I find the challenges really fun.”

Doubles action saw senior Maddy Wilber and freshman Sofia Rodriguez earn a 6-3, 6-1 victory over New Canaan’s Camryn Lee/Isabella Calaba. Wilber successfully competed at second doubles last season with 2026 graduate Emme Pecorin, as they formed an outstanding combination.

Cardinals freshman Chloe Culver returns a shot during her No. 4 singles match against New Canaan. She won the match.

“Last year was really great because I had been playing with my partner last year for so long and we really got to maximize every match possible, which was a great experience overall,” Wilber recalled. “This year, I think we’re looking very strong. We have a lot of new freshmen this year, so that’s really great and we just try to do our best every match.”

The Cardinals’ No. 1 doubles team is certainly displaying standout teamwork in their first season together.

“Obviously, we’re new together, so we have to work some things out, but it’s been going well so far,” Rodriguez said. “It’s definitely a great experience that I’ve been looking forward to since I moved here,” Rodriguez said of her first season with the Cards. “It’s been really fun. It’s great to be part of the team.”

**Picture by David Fierro:** Chloe Culver his a backhand at fourth singles for GHS vs. New Canaan.s

Said Wilber: “Going into today (the New Canaan match), I think we were a little nervous, but once we were in the match, we tried to focus and take it one point at a time and I think it worked.”

At second doubles, seniors Bella Barban and Olivia Popp recorded a 7-5, 6-3 triumph for Greenwich over Sophia Adamczyk/Lucy Bench. Barban and Popp are an experienced doubles team that excelled at the No. 2 doubles position last year. Their winning season featured a victory against Staples at second doubles in the Class LL tournament state final.

In the No. 3 doubles matchup against New Canaan, Clara Sibley and Priya Gupta were victorious for the Cards, 6-1, 6-1.

Shining Sun is one of Greenwich’s senior athletes. She plays at the No. 1 singles position for the Cardinals.

“We have so many good players and everyone who is returning got so much better and I have complete faith in them,” Sun noted.

Mahoney reflected on her time on the tennis court at Greenwich High School.

“I’ve had such a fun experience,” Mahoney said. “All the girls on the team have been my friends for life. I’m so excited to come back and visit next year. It’s an experience I wouldn’t trade for anything else.”

It was a great match for Greenwich High School against New Canaan recently, winning 6-1.

When Greenwich beat Staples for the CIAC Class LL title last season, it marked the first time the Cardinals won both the Class LL state championship and the FCIAC title in one season since 2009.

As for some of Greenwich’s 2026 goals?

“I definitely think a perfect season like last year – undefeated like last year,” Mahoney said. “So, hopefully, we can go 22-0 again and hopefully, win FCIACs and states. But as long as we try our best, that’s all I can ask for.”

**Photo by David Fierro:** Greenwich senior Shining Sun in action at first singles vs. New Canaan.

Greenwich began its season on April 6 with a 6-1 home win versus Fairfield Ludlowe. Sun, Mahoney, Li and Culver each won their respective singles matches in straight sets for the Cardinals.

Wilber and Rodriguez won in straight sets at first doubles, as did Sibley/Gupta at No. 3. Against St. Joseph on April 7th, the Cardinals swept to a 7-0 win in another home matchup.

Sun, Li and Culver were each 6-0, 6-0 winners, while Mahoney took her match, 6-0, 6-1. Wilber/Rodriguez won their match at first doubles, 6-0, 6-0, while Barban/Popp coasted to a 6-1, 6-0 win at No. 2. Reese Raffe and Alexandra Rothstein saw action at third doubles for GHS and promptly won their match at No. 3, 6-0, 6-0.