The Middlebury women’s tennis team hosted the ITA New England Regional Championships this past weekend, bringing three days of tennis, 19 teams, and over 100 players to campus. The tournament saw Elsie Van Wieren ’28 and Gusty Beveridge ’28 reach the quarterfinals of the A singles bracket, while Ren Barton ’29 won the B singles bracket.
The ITA Regional tournament was Middlebury’s second and final home competition of the semester. The winners of the tournament’s A singles bracket and doubles bracket each earn spots and advance to the ITA Cup in Rome, GA with a chance at All-American honors. Overall though, the stakes were modest at this past weekend’s tournament in comparison to the spring season’s major competitions.
The fall is a period of experimentation, and the Panthers used their home tournament to play as much as possible and create a foundation to build on for spring.
“Our real season is in the spring,” Anna Lardner ’26 said, “So [the tournament] is pretty much a showcase to tell us what we need to work on and what our strengths, what our weaknesses are.”
The structure of the ITA Regional tournament enables a flexible approach: Coaches can enter their entire roster for any type of match, allowing players to get plenty of singles and doubles reps — a freedom nonexistent in most spring competitions. Middlebury’s new courts also made hosting the tournament possible, accommodating all of the players and teams over the three day competition.
“You play singles, you play doubles, or you play singles and doubles, or you don’t play at all,” Lardner said.
The unique tournament structure also means players are always out on the courts. During the day you could find a match taking place at any one of Middlebury’s three courts, from Proctor to Nelson to the new courts. Some athletes played up to four matches in one day, making for a marathon of tennis by Sunday.
Unlike a marathon, however, the players do not compete with pacing in mind. Every match is an all-out effort, from Friday morning to Sunday afternoon.
“We are always just very focused on that one match, one point. You don’t think about the next, because then you’re not focused on [the current match],” Charlotte McCann ’26 said.
Lulu Wu ’26 added: “You have to give it your all every single point. Every point matters.”
This focused, fighting mentality reflects the hyper-competitive nature of tennis. You are always directly facing your opponent, and once the game has begun, there is no hiding or letting up. Feet away, the crowd watches on, including future opposing players eager to learn your weaknesses, opposing fans trying to get in your head, and the intense tennis moms fiercely observing it all — a truly high-strung environment.
Despite the external pressure, the Panthers emphasized sticking to their game and maintaining physical, mental and emotional intensity throughout the weekend.
“You go out there and compete how you wanna compete,” McCann said.
Even off the courts, Middlebury’s athletes were still on the clock. Players typically wait an hour between matches, but “waiting” is a misnomer. It is crucial for members of the women’s tennis team not only to refuel and stretch after a game, but also to cheer on their teammates when playing.
“We are a team that puts a big emphasis on if you’re not playing, you’re watching very intently,” Lardner said.
“Everyone plays a huge role, whether that’s on the court or off the court,” Wu said.
Moving on from the tournament, the Panthers can be content with an overall positive weekend and a better idea of where improvement is needed for the spring season.
The Middlebury women’s tennis fall season comes to a close in two weeks at Bowdoin, a reminder of how quick the campaign passes. For now though, the Panthers will prioritize recovery after three days of intense play.
“I’m in shambles right now. You must be in shambles?” Lardner asked McCann after her final match on Sunday.
“I’m tired,” McCann said.
Such exhaustion is well-earned given the way the Panthers served, volleyed and cheered for three straight days during the ITA Regional Championships.
Simon Schmieder '26 (he/him) is a Senior Sports Editor.
Simon is an avid runner and biker and enjoys spending time outdoors. He is a philosophy and political science joint major with a minor in German, in addition to being a Philly sports fan.
