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CAMBRIDGE, MA (September 18, 2026) — The Tufts University women’s tennis squad got its 2026-27 season underway Friday, as the Jumbos competed in the first of three days of action at the 2026 MIT Invitational at DuPont Tennis Center in Cambridge.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Jumbos’ action was highlighted by a pair of singles’ participants that moved into the Quarterfinals on Saturday, as juniors Melanie Woodbury<\/a> and Athena Li<\/a> as well as sophomore Kyra McCandless<\/a> each stayed in the main draw with victories.\u00a0<\/p>\n Woodbury had a bye in the opening round as the No. 2 seed in the tournament, and then dispatched of Julia Ross of Bowdoin College 6-4, 4-6, 1-0 (2) in a super-tiebreaker in the Round of 16. Woodbury will battle Katie Driscoll of MIT Saturday in the quarterfinals.\u00a0<\/p>\n McCandless knocked off Nina Costalas in the Round of 32 in straight sets, 7-6 (3), 6-3. In the round of 16, McCandless pulled the upset over No. 5 seed Chloe Zeng of MIT 4-6, 6-4, 1-0 (5) in the super-tiebreaker. McCandless will take on Caroline Stuhlfaut of Bowdoin College.\u00a0<\/p>\n Li upset Zoe Sun and fifth-seed in straight sets 7-6 (5), 6-0 in the Round of 32. In the Round of 16, Li outlasted Amherst College’s Anwitha Duduka 6-7 (4), 7-5, 1-0 (7) in a super. Li will battle Sophia Yang in the quarterfinals.\u00a0<\/p>\n In other singles’ main draw competition, junior Nadia Khera<\/a> was a 6-0, 6-0 victor over Anselma Petrie from MIT. In the Round of 16, Khera was defeated by top-seed Tina She of MIT 7-6 (0), 6-3.\u00a0<\/p>\n Senior Evelina Anastasi<\/a>\u00a0was topped by Sophia Yang 6-0, 6-1 while junior Ryan Wuhrman<\/a> was defeated by Stuhlfaut 5-7, 6-4, 1-0 (2). Sophomore Alyssa Khou<\/a> also battled Sameera Talwar, taking the opening set, but fell 3-6, 6-4, 1-0 (9).\u00a0<\/p>\n In consolation singles’ play, Wuhrman knocked off Cayna Ghaly\u00a0of Amherst College.\u00a0<\/p>\n In doubles, McCandless and Khou\u00a0knocked off Nisha Gandra and Petrie of MIT 8-4. The duo will now take on top-seed Tina She and Lily Dounchis of Amherst Saturday in the quarterfinals.\u00a0<\/p>\n