NORTHAMPTON — Both teams sat side by side to watch the final singles match of the day between Caitlyn Richmond, of Northampton, and Nya Saunders, of Amherst.

The two showed flashes of why they were deserving of the No. 1 singles matchup with their ferocious serves and agility on the court. The two took part in a heated battle through the warm but windy conditions at JFK Middle School. Saunders eventually came out on top, but it was too late.

Northampton swept doubles and won at No. 2 singles to beat Amherst, 3-2.

Saunders won first singles over Richmond, 6-1, 6-1.

Jordan Kuhr bested Lilli Conrad in second singles 6-2, 6-1 to clinch the match for the Blue Devils (3-1).

Kuhr’s game plan coming into the match wasn’t to do anything out of the ordinary. She just wanted to minimize mistakes.

“For me a big strategy thing is just trying to keep it in play,” Kuhr said. “I think I hit it a little too hard sometimes, so I try and focus on keeping it in play and then waiting for the other person to make a mistake.”

In the first doubles match, Northampton’s Maeve Raphael-Reily and Sophia Renauld won their matchup against Christina Lee and Nikayla Krouch 6-1, 6-3.

In second doubles, Marissa Tousey-Pfarrer and Hanna Kanig beat Anastasiya Kaltashova and Sofia Sotarello 6-1, 6-2.

For Amherst (0-1), Amaraya Deza picked up the third singles victory over Hannah Crand 6-0, 6-1.

In the first singles matchup, Richmond explained that the windy weather played a factor throughout the game

“My serves were either really long or really short,” said Richmond. “I just wasn’t really working around the wind that well. I feel like my backhands also needs some improvement.”

Saunders “was really good at keeping the ball in and she had a really good serve,” Richmond added. “I think the wind got to both of us today.”

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