ANNANDALE-ON-HUDSON, N.Y. — The Pratt Institute women's tennis team kicked off its 2026 campaign in commanding fashion, cruising to a 7-0 non-conference sweep of Bard College on Saturday afternoon at the Stevenson Athletic Center.
The Cannoneers (1-0) established control immediately in doubles play. Sophomores Olivia Tao (Ann Arbor, Mich.) and Judith Song (Sharon, Mass.) secured the first victory of the year with a swift 6-0 shutout at the No. 2 flight. Seniors Pallavi Verghese (Fayetteville, Ark.) and Beatrice Crespo (Kearny, N.J.) quickly followed, clinching the doubles point with a 6-2 win at the top spot.
Newcomers Elva Yu (Spring, Texas) and Sophie Kirschner (West Palm Beach, Fla.) completed the doubles sweep for the black-and-gold, partnering for a 6-2 triumph at No. 3.
In singles action, the top half of the lineup proved untouchable. Verghese, Crespo, and Song each delivered flawless 6-0, 6-0 victories at the first, second, and third flights, respectively, to rapidly secure the overall team victory.
The bottom half of the lineup kept the momentum rolling to finalize the sweep. Yu claimed a 6-1, 6-3 win at No. 4 singles, showcasing strong baseline play. Kirschner surrendered just four games in a 6-2, 6-2 result at No. 6, while Tao rounded out the afternoon at No. 5, picking up the victory after building a 5-0 lead in the opening set before her opponent retired.
Pratt extends their win streak to 21 matches dating back to the 2024-25 season following a 12-0 campaign in 2025-26.
The Cannoneers return to the court next Saturday, September 19 facing Farmingdale State College in a non-conference match in Farmingdale, N.Y. starting at noon.
