The 4th-ranked Fairfield Trojans tennis team delivered an impressive performance at the Burlington Tournament, capturing 2nd place overall while earning multiple individual championships against strong competition.
“Great day at Burlington’s tournament. Everyone played great,” said Coach Dunkin, whose team faced quality opponents including 9th-ranked Pleasant Valley from Class 2A, along with host Burlington and Burlington Notre Dame. It is noteworthy that Poojita Mukadam was not available today.
Fairfield’s top 2 singles players of the day dominated their respective flights, with both earning individual championships. Natalie Steele cruised through the number-1 singles bracket, defeating Burlington’s Ava Moffett 8-2, shutting out Burlington Notre Dame’s Paige Kramer 8-0, and capping her perfect day with an 8-4 victory over Pleasant Valley’s Grace Hall.
Ria Ross matched Steele’s dominance in the 2nd singles position, claiming her championship with victories over Burlington’s Ava Fawcett (8-2), Pleasant Valley’s Ellie Wright (8-2), and a decisive 8-0 win against Burlington Notre Dame’s Jessee Pearson.
Sriya Yammanur and Faeven Gebremariam both earned runner-up finishes in their respective singles flights, demonstrating the Trojans’ depth. Yammanur went 2-1 in 3rd singles, with wins over Burlington’s Leah Sieren (8-2) and Burlington Notre Dame’s Chloee Anderson (8-2), while falling only to Pleasant Valley’s Reese Benge 8-1.
Gebremariam also posted a 2-1 record in 4th singles, defeating Burlington’s Ruby Orr 8-4 and blanking Burlington Notre Dame’s Merideth Willson 8-0 before falling to Pleasant Valley’s Kelsey Kountze 8-3.
The Trojans’ 5th and 6th singles players, Tula Sorflaten and Aubrey Ryan, faced tough competition throughout the day. Sorflaten managed 1 victory, defeating Burlington Notre Dame’s Alen Franklin 8-0, while suffering losses to Burlington’s Sophia Pettit (8-2) and Pleasant Valley’s Annalise McAlpine (8-1). Ryan fell in both of her matches, losing to Pleasant Valley’s Anna Bartsh 8-1 and Burlington’s Mylee Stiefel 8-0.
Fairfield’s doubles teams earned 2 runner-up finishes despite facing the tournament’s strongest competition. The 1st doubles team of Ross and Yammanur went 2-1, recording shutout victories over Burlington (8-0) and Burlington Notre Dame (8-0) before falling to Pleasant Valley’s Hall and Benge in a competitive 8-6 match.
The 2nd doubles pairing of Steele and Gebremariam also claimed runner-up honors with a 2-1 record. They opened with a thrilling 9-7 victory over Burlington’s Sieren and Pettit, followed by an 8-0 shutout of Burlington Notre Dame’s Pearson and Willson, before falling to Pleasant Valley’s Wright and Kountze 8-4.
Sorflaten and Ryan competed in 3rd doubles but struggled against quality competition, falling to Pleasant Valley’s McAlpine and Lila Haffarnan 8-1 and losing to Burlington’s Stiefel and Orr 8-2.
