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.
The Jumbos' action was highlighted by a pair of singles' participants that moved into the Quarterfinals on Saturday, as juniors
Melanie Woodbury and
Athena Li as well as sophomore
Kyra McCandless each stayed in the main draw with victories.
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.
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.
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.
In other singles' main draw competition, junior
Nadia Khera 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.
Senior
Evelina Anastasi was topped by Sophia Yang 6-0, 6-1 while junior
Ryan Wuhrman was defeated by Stuhlfaut 5-7, 6-4, 1-0 (2). Sophomore
Alyssa Khou also battled Sameera Talwar, taking the opening set, but fell 3-6, 6-4, 1-0 (9).
In consolation singles' play, Wuhrman knocked off Cayna Ghaly of Amherst College.
In doubles, McCandless and Khou knocked 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.
In the Round of 16, Woodbury and Wuhrman battled but fell to Lillian Moldenhauer and Ross of Bowdoin, 8-6. Khera and Anastasi also were topped by No. 3 seed Chloe Zeng and Carley Chen of MIT, 8-0, while
Brooklyn Bindas and Li were defeated 8-2 by Sophia Yang and Claire Zhou 8-2.
In consolation doubles' play, Woodbury and Wuhrman were knocked off by Anastasis Samets and Katie Driscoll of MIT. Khera and Anastasi fell 8-2 to Stuhlfaut and Willow Assante-LaBash.
Bindas and Li eked out a win in consolation doubles 8-7 (2) over Gabrielle Shiao and Grea Stechschulte of Amherst College.
Action resumes on Saturday morning at MIT.
--JUMBOS--
