NEWTON – Numbers have been ever in the Raiders’ favor. In some respects, figures have reached ridiculous heights.
The team hadn’t just won 34 consecutive matches. It swept 10 straight opponents, marking over a month without allowing a single point.
But all of that nearly came crashing down Tuesday.
Pulled back to Earth from the stratosphere, they found themselves needing heroics to salvage their bulletproof identity.
They didn’t get one hero. They got two.
Triumphing in a three-hour-plus thriller, No. 4 Wellesley girls’ tennis (18-0) edged out No. 2 Newton South (15-1) by a 3-2 score at Newton South High School. The defending MIAA Division I state champions – still unbeaten since May 1, 2024 – ultimately put their faith in a tandem who embodies their winning reputation.
“This is one of these matches that we could easily have lost 5-0,” said coach Rob Miller. “So 3-2 looks impressive, but it was a tough 3-2 win.”
Members of Wellesley girls’ tennis put their hands together to close their prematch huddle.Jack Nelson
Juniors Sari Hart and Mia Chung were the duo in question. They didn’t lose once at second doubles last season, and this campaign, have translated their partnership to a greater role. The now-first doubles pair carried a 13-0 record into Newton.
The challenge ahead, though, entailed something entirely unfamiliar.
Hart and Chung had survived three-set matches before – twice, in fact, since their promotion. Never had they needed to rebound from a lost opening frame in the process.
Tuesday required such a feat when seniors Julia Lee and Julia Sayers got out to a 6-4 start.
“We realized that they were both really good at poaching and volleying, so it was hard to win points when they were so active at the net,” Chung said. “So we started strategizing a bit and using slower serves to attack more.”
The two Raiders spent the better part of the following set upping their net aggression, forcing themselves onto the offensive rather than letting the Lions dictate. It paid off in the form of a 6-3 response to pull even.
And at that moment, Wellesley did need a comeback from somewhere.
Newton South’s freshman Emilie Zhu and sophomore Sienna Soloroza already rolled to a 6-0 opening set on the next court over, while sophomore Nika Presayzen gave the hosts even more to celebrate with that same score at third singles. Both strong starts turned into straight-sets victories.
For the third time this season – preceded only by Needham and Milton in early April – an opponent notched two points against Wellesley.
Senior Sarah Mackey got the Raiders on track with her 6-4, 6-2 result over junior Lauren Sayers. Kimmy Tai cruised in her own right, just as the sophomore has often done en route to a 14-0 record this season with time evenly split at first and second singles.
Kimmy Tai bounces the ball at the baseline before a serve at first singles.Jack Nelson
Taking the top court for this occasion, she raced to a 6-1 advantage. But a far tighter following frame – unfinished by the time Hart and Chung had wrapped their second set – forced second doubles to play an entire third set.
All eyes shifted to them when Tai ripped a forehand winner to even the team match at two points apiece.
“We’re used to the pressure. A lot of our matches take a lot longer than everyone else’s,” Hart said. “What it really comes down to is the support from our team, because the difference in how we play is insane knowing that they’re there.”
The crowd converged on a small hill behind the court. Sitting front row were the Raiders cheering for every point that went their way.
Chung – prone to laughing off her mistakes – flashed smiles back at her teammates and traded playful words across the fence. Hart, too, engaged with them, staying loose despite a 34-match winning streak and undefeated season hanging over both of their heads.
A 3-1 lead for Wellesley in the winner-take-all third set would fall to 3-3. Newton South earned the tie by breaking Hart’s serve, but she regrouped with Chung and broke right back.
The two state-champion juniors didn’t surrender a game from then onward.
“They don’t get flustered. They had a lot of chances to be flustered in that match,” Miller said. “They had 40-0 leads that they lost, they had 30-0 leads that they lost and, still, they believe in each other.”
Chung (center) embraces her teammates after clinching the team victory alongside Hart.Jack Nelson
The group was without sophomore Bella Gopen against their highest-ranked foe of the regular season. She was unavailable because of an intestinal issue, per Miller, but when healthy, operates as the squad’s top singles player.
Wellesley showed Tuesday that it remains formidable without her. It boasts winners up and down the lineup, and this time, two took the stage.
