The George Mason High School girls tennis team avenged last month’s 5-4 loss to Clarke County on Monday, turning the tables on their district rival and winning 7-2. Even with freshman Michelle Repper, Mason’s highest ranked player, out sick for the day, the Mustangs dominated, sweeping their singles matches. Junior Annie Zweighaft (No. 6) and seniors Yesha Shrestha (No. 5) and Margaret Lipman (No. 4) quickly finished their matches with very little trouble, winning 10-0, 10-2, and 10-2, respectively. The Clarke team proved to be more daunting for the top three singles players, but each Mason girl stayed cool and fought it out. Boosted by overwhelming cheering from their teammates, senior Alina Kaye (No. 3) and freshman Kelsey Kane (No. 1) both came from behind to win their matches 10-8 and 11-9. Kane’s match was especially important, as she clinched the District singles championship with her victory. Senior Anna Duning (No. 2) bested a challenging competitor to win 10-4.

Although Mason had already claimed the match by winning all six singles matches, the competition proceeded to the doubles contests. The No. 3 doubles team of Kaye and Shrestha confidently took on their opponents to win 10-4. Duning and Zweighaft, the No. 2 doubles team, put up a good fight against their competitors but lost an intense tie-breaker 8-8, 7-4. In Repper’s absence, freshman Claire Sedmak stepped in to play on the No. 1 doubles team with Kane. After a challenging match, the Clarke team eventually closed for the win 10-6.

The victory gave Mason a series split with Clarke County, the only other team in the Bull Run District. The teams then advanced to a winner-take-all tie-breaker on Wednesday, May 23, with the winner claiming the Bull Run crown and advancing to the Regional Tournament. Results of the decisive match were not available at press time.

The Region B semifinals will be held this Saturday.