The Whitehall girls tennis team powered past Pleasant Valley on Tuesday thanks to some gutsy play from their senior co-captains.

Head coach Sean Devine said that No. 1 singles player Emily Yenser was embroiled in a three-set marathon with Masani Francis that outlasted most of the action taking place on the six courts at Whitehall High School. She won the match and then immediately teamed up with fellow senior Nicole Peluso and won 6-4, 6-4 at No. 1 doubles.

That final match was the difference, giving the Zephyrs a 4-3 win over the Bears.

This latest victory came on a day when the temperatures were pushing into the mid-90s. However, Yenser found a way to win her two matches, giving her four wins on the season. Likewise for Peluso who also won her singles match, helping to set the stage for the Zephyrs win over the Bears.

“She [Yenser] played really well,” said Devine.

That win raises their record to 4-1, their only loss coming at the hands of Bethlehem Catholic.

Devine said that while they didn’t bring their A game, they were able to rally behind their senior co-captains who stepped up and delivered. The Zephyrs also got a win at No. 2 doubles as Teresa Nappo and Maria Tran defeated the Bear tandem of Kamryn Scrivens and Nicole Moore.

Devine said that they needed to be a little more consistent against the Bears, but knows that they’re still a young team and they’re steadily improving. He also believes that they’ll be a team that may surprise some people when district play rolls around in the fall.

“I think that the way we’re developing, we’re going to be a team that other teams don’t want to play,” said Devine.

The Bears witnessed how tough Whitehall can be, especially when it gets solid play from its veteran leadership. Devine said that their seniors really won the match for them.

Their prior match was against Pocono Mountain West. They defeated the Panthers 7-0. Peluso didn’t lose a game in her match with Grace Fruauff, winning in straight sets 6-0, 6-0. Yenser won at No. 1 6-0, 6-4, while No. 3 Emma Garneau won 6-2, 6-2 over Amanda Ciariante.

Their doubles teams swept the Panthers, with Nappo and Tran dropping just two games en route to their win.