PASADENA, Calif. – Caltech Women's Tennis opened the 2024 spring season Thursday afternoon, playing host to the Brandeis University Judges under clear skies and brisk temperatures.
 
The visitors claimed victory in the doubles matches, but Caltech kept things close during the singles session that followed. Newcomer Anna Tanaka (Honolulu / IMG Academy) blasted through her #6 Singles match, conceding just one game to her opponent for a quick 6-0, 6-1 win to give the Beavers their first match point of the day.
 
On Court 2, junior Yoyo Benchetrit (Toronto / St. Clements) struggled early on in her first set but then caught fire, coming from behind and holding on for a 7-5 win in the first set. She carried that momentum and claimed the match with a 6-0 second set.
 
Senior Emily Zhang (Sharon, Mass. / Sharon) emerged victorious after a back-and-forth first set in #1 Singles, prevailing with a 6-4 score and then making quick work of her rival with a 6-2 score in the following set, to pull the Beavers within one match point of the guests.
 
First-year Hannah Ramsperger (Zürich / Realgymnasium Rämibühl Zürich) outlasted her opponent in the longest singles pairing of the match, splitting the first two sets 6-3 and 1-6 before fighting back to a grueling 7-5 third set tally and Caltech's fourth match point.
 
"In our first match of the season, I'm proud of our competitive spirit, our team unity and our overall growth," said Head Coach Benay Weintraub. "We are fortunate to play the best teams in the country and honored to be named as one of them."
 
"We played with heart," Weintraub added. "I'm confident special things are on the way for this special team. And a shoutout to our stellar first-years; they brought so much excitement into our lineup. The best is yet to come for them and the entire team."
 
The Beavers will take the courts again next week, hosting Washington and Lee University on Saturday, Mar. 2 at 11 a.m. Follow the team on Instagram and twitter.com/caltechwten.