EAST PROVIDENCE — Finally back in action after weather postponed most play late last week, the East Providence High School girls' tennis team defeated next-door neighbor Providence Country Day 5-2 Tuesday afternoon, Sept, 19, at the Townie Tennis Center.

The hosts, playing just their second Division III match of the season, improved to 2-0. Last week, EP had two of its first three outings delayed due to rain. The Townies won their lone outing 7-0 over Tolman.

PCD was in a similar position. The Knights were making their 2023 debut Tuesday after having their matches postponed during the same time period.

"I thought our girls played tough. That’s how we want them to play," said EPHS head coach Slade Sharma. "PCD is well coached and talented and we knew it was gonna be a tight one all day. and that we were just going to have to be tougher. We feel good about a 5-2 win against a good team."

East Providence's second doubles duo of Tianna Brierly and Maggie Robinson were first off the court with their 6-2, 6-1 win over PCD's Nora Calhoun-Hannah Eno.

The Knights' top player and considered to the league's best singles performer, Emma DiPardo, quickly leveled the overall score with her 1-and-0 victory over EP's Hope Moran at the No. 1 position.

The Townies then went right back on top, taking the next two matches off the court.

Isabella Hurley and Madison Luu defeated PCD's duo of Eloise Wetherby-Mays Miller at first doubles 6-4 and 6-2.

At fourth singles, Townies' senior captain Caroline Haggerty needed a tie-breaker to claim the first set over the Knights' Iris Petrillo then won the second set with ease en route to the 7-6 (7-1), 6-0 victory.

Two of the three remaining matches were close, the ones at second and third singles.

The Knights' Qingyang "Clare" Xie and EP's Megha Tenneti played a tight two-setter, PCD's player winning 7-5 and 6-4.

A pair of matches remained with the overall score sitting at 4-2 Townies.

Rylee Thurber and Ava Domingues were 1-and-2 winners over the Knights' tandem of Emerson Bates-Emeline Turnbull to give the Townies the deciding point.

Shortly thereafter, EP's Leah Shanty was closing out the tightest contest of the afternoon, a three-set win over PCD's Marguerite Cuzzone by the scores of 6-1, 5-7 and 6-2.

"I'm optimistic. I knew this match against EP would tell us where we're at. It would tell us where we need to work, what we need to do at practices so we'll be ready come playoff time," said PCD head coach Mike Silva, the city native and general manager of Tennis-Rhode Island East Bay on Boyd Avenue. "I think we'll be in the playoff mix. I think the top teams are Scituate, East Providence and PCD."