EAST PROVIDENCE — The East Providence High School girls' tennis team didn't let a little rain and some damp courts Monday afternoon, Oct. 16, get in the way of clinching the 2023 Division III regular season title.

Playing at their home Townie Tennis Center and on Senior Day, the locals dispatched visiting Hope 4-0 with a sweep of singles.

East Providence remained undefeated and atop the league standings at 13-0 with the victory. The Townies close out their regular season slate Thursday, Oct. 19, at Exeter-West Greenwich.

At home against the visiting Blue Wave Monday, the Townies wasted little time sending their guests back to the East Side of Providence in defeat.

Hope Moran won her match for the locals at first singles 6-0, 6-1. Lena Shanty was a 0-and-0 winner at No. 2. Megha Tenneti and Caroline Haggerty, at Nos. 3 and 4, respectively, won by the same 6-1, 6-0 counts.

With the overall match already decided there was no need to conclude or contest the three doubles matches. Each of the EPHS teams — Isabella Hurley-Madision Luu, Tianna Brierly-Maggie Robinson, Ava Dominques-Rylee Thurber — were awarded forfeits.

Shanty, Haggerty, Tenneti and Hurley are the four senior regulars in the Townie lineup who made their final regular season home appearances.

Of clinching first place and the accompanying top seed in the upcoming division championship playoffs, EPHS head coach Slade Sharma said, "It’s great. Theoretically it gives us the best possible route to the championship match which is the focus. The girls have a lot to be proud of."

It's been six years since an EPHS side finished first during the regular season. The Townies actually shared the top spot in the then-Division III-A with Middletown as each completed their schedule with 15-1 records. East Providence went on to defeat Classical, unbeaten and winners of III-B at 16-0, for the league championship.

The Townies haven't finished alone atop the league table in 20 years when East Providence placed first in the then-Class C-North standings with a 15-1 record in 2003. That fall, EPHS was upset by 8-8 Chariho in the quarterfinal round of the playoffs.

After the EWG outing, the Townies will play host to the eighth seed in a quarterfinal match on either October 26 or 27. The semifinals will also be played at the home of the higher seed on October 31 or November 1 with the D-III title tilt set for Saturday, Nov. 4, at Slater Park in Pawtucket at 4 p.m.