Washington and Lee Women’s Tennis Dominates Singles at Christopher Newport Invite
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – The early jitters didn’t last long.
After dropping two of three doubles contests to host Christopher Newport at the Christopher Newport Invite on Sunday, the Washington and Lee women’s tennis team reset, regrouped and then rolled through singles, claiming six of nine matches on the day and five of six in singles.
The response was emphatic.
Generals Flip the Script in Singles
The turnaround started on the singles courts, where the Generals took control and never really loosened their grip. Every W&L victory came in straight sets, a statement of both depth and composure after the rocky start in doubles.
First-years Susanna Whitehead and Manavi Bedi led the charge with ruthless efficiency. Whitehead powered to a 6-2, 6-0 win, settling into a rhythm that her opponent never managed to disrupt. Bedi went one better on the scoreboard, handing out a 6-0, 6-0 shutout that underlined how quickly she’s adapted to collegiate tennis.
Behind them, the sophomores added the kind of gritty points that win weekends. Sarah Ladd closed out a tight second set to secure a 6-2, 7-6 (4) victory, handling the tiebreak with the poise of a veteran. On the adjacent court, Margarette Berdy built a commanding lead at 6-2, 2-1 before her opponent, Anna Bong, retired, giving Berdy the win by default.
Junior Mary Kate Kahl quietly put the finishing touch on a perfect singles weekend for herself. Already 1-0 in singles heading into Sunday, she moved to 2-0 with a 6-1, 7-5 win over Lindsey Bergelin, turning aside a late push to close the door in straight sets.
By the time the last handshake came at the net, the early doubles deficit felt distant.
Doubles Spark Amid Early Setback
The day hadn’t started the way W&L wanted. The Generals dropped two of three doubles matches, forced to chase the session from behind.
One pairing, though, offered a glimpse of what was to come.
Ladd and Whitehead combined for the lone doubles win, a sharp 6-2 performance over Molly Miller and Kylie Schaefer. Their energy and clean finishing at the net provided a foothold on the scoreboard and a bit of momentum heading into singles, where the Generals would do the real damage.
Unfinished Business and What Comes Next
There was one piece of unfinished business that never found resolution. After standing on match point in doubles against Hampton on Saturday, the Generals never got the chance to close that chapter. The match against the Pirates could not be resumed on Sunday, leaving a rare loose end in a weekend otherwise defined by completed comebacks and straight-set finishes.
Now, the road swings back to Lexington.
Washington and Lee returns home to prepare for one of the key markers on its fall calendar: the ITA Southeast Region Championships at the University of Mary Washington, set for September 25–28. With first-years already delivering dominant scorelines, sophomores grinding out tiebreaks, and upperclassmen stacking wins, the question isn’t whether this group can compete at regional level.
It’s how far this blend of youth and experience can push the standard for the Blue and White over the weeks to come.
