The 2026 CMS/PP women’s pre-season tennis invitational kicked off the fall season on Sept. 18 to 19. Hosted across both campuses, the matches provided a glimpse of the season to come. With teams hailing from around Southern California, from CSU Northridge to Concordia University Irvine, both Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (CMS) and Pomona-Pitzer (P-P) got their first taste of competition for the upcoming fall season.
For CMS, the team looked to build on their successful campaign last year, in which they won both the ITA National Indoor Championships and the SCIAC championship. With a combined 23-3 singles record across the invitational, the squad did not miss a beat, picking up right where they left off.
After joining the team this fall, Anika Malik CM ’30 was enthusiastic about the opportunity to be part of a CMS team positioned for success.
“I was really excited, honestly,” Malik said. “Being with this team and being able to compete, I wasn’t even nervous about it. I may have felt nervous initially. But then, once you come out and you start playing, it gets a lot easier and more fun.
Prior to her singles match, Malik competed in a riveting doubles match with her teammate Leah Baroudi HM ‘29, winning 6-0 and emerging as a top CMS pairing to look out for. She addressed the importance of putting your best foot forward as a tennis player competing at the collegiate level.
“ Before this match, someone on the team said, ‘play like you’ve never lost before and train like you’ve never won before,’” Malik said.
“Before this match, someone on the team said, ‘play like you’ve never lost before and train like you’ve never won before,’” Malik said. “So I think it’s important to have confidence to come and just give it your all.”
That she did. Across the span of the two-day invitational, Malik won five of her six matches, three in singles and two in doubles.
Following the loss of several seniors to graduation last spring, the invitational presented an opportunity for P-P to define their new identity. The team looks to build on their NCAA win over No. 24 Colorado College last year, part of an 11-9 season that ultimately saw them fall to CMS in the regional finals.
As each team ramps up for their upcoming matches, Grace Kersenbrok PO ’30 emphasized the benefits of early-season competition.
“We definitely now know what we need to work on and what we need to keep practicing,” Kersenbrok said. “But overall, I think it went really well. We learned a lot.”
Alex Dewey SC ’30 said that in tournaments spanning multiple days, it’s important for the team to keep up with the pacing of a multi-match day.
“The main thing on my mind is, ‘how can I help my team?’” Dewey said. “How can I be the best player that will support the team?”
Emily Gao CM ’30, talked about her own mindset going into a match: one that prioritizes the mental side of the sport and being sure to maintain conditioning throughout a tough match day.
“It’s really you against yourself and you just have to play like you want it and [as if] you’re fresh on the court everytime,” Gao said. “But obviously, also rest after every match, hydrate [and] eat well.”
Although it is clear that the pressure is on, at its core, players compete to enjoy the game.
“We like to give high fives,” Gao said.
“Give lots of high fives,” Dewey said, laughing as she interrupted Gao.
Braving the sweltering heat, Athenas and Sagehens have their game faces on.