Centennial tennis bounces back with 6-3 win over Urbana

Centennial topped Urbana 6-3 at Blair Park Thursday, rebounding from a loss to Mahomet-Seymour with key singles and doubles wins.
Ria Modi hits the ball in her tennis match
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Chargers' Ria Modi keeps the ball in play during Centennial's home match against Mahomet-Seymour. Modi, who lost that match, pulled off a commanding win over Urbana's Elianna Lee to reset her win streak.

URBANA - Coming off a loss to local emerging girls tennis powerhouse Mahomet-Seymour, Centennial put another mark in the win column Thursday with a 6-3 road victory over Big Twelve Conference opponent Urbana.

The Chargers (2-4) leaned on their top players to lead the way. No. 1 singles standout Ria Modi and No. 2 Taylor Diep, both looking to rebound from Labor Day setbacks, did just that by sweeping their singles matches and later teaming up with partners to take doubles wins as well. Modi paired with Romi Sagiv to win at No. 2 doubles, while Diep joined forces with Krisha Patel to claim No. 1 doubles.

Patel also delivered a dramatic win in singles at the No. 3 spot, outlasting Urbana’s Ananyah Tangmunarunkit in a tense third-set tiebreaker, 14-12. Sagiv added a straight-set victory at No. 4 singles to give Centennial a strong showing across the middle of the lineup.

Centennial will return home Thursday to host crosstown rival Champaign Central at Lindsay Courts, looking to secure bragging rights among Champaign-Urbana’s three large school programs.


Complete Match Results

Champaign Centennial 6, Urbana 3

Singles

  • No. 1 – Ria Modi (Centennial) def. Elianna Lee (Urbana), 6-1, 6-3
  • No. 2 – Taylor Diep (Centennial) def. Catherine Bretl (Urbana), 6-0, 6-0
  • No. 3 – Krisha Patel (Centennial) def. Ananyah Tangmunarunkit (Urbana), 6-4, 2-6, 14-12
  • No. 4 – Romi Sagiv (Centennial) def. Anyssa Tangmunarunkit (Urbana), 6-1, 6-3
  • No. 5 – Gwen McLean (Urbana) def. Asma Cheema (Centennial), 6-2, 6-2
  • No. 6 – Simone Marshall (Urbana) def. D. Patel (Centennial), 7-5, 6-4

Doubles

  • No. 1 – Diep/Patel (Centennial) def. Lee/Tangmunarunkit (Urbana), 7-5, 5-2 (ret.)
  • No. 2 – Modi/Sagiv (Centennial) def. McLean/Bretl (Urbana), 6-2, 6-2
  • No. 3 – Tangmunarunkit/Aksimentyeva (Urbana) def. Patel/Cheema (Centennial), 7-6 (6), 6-0

More stories ~
  • Madigan wins back-to-back titles at Labor Day Tournament
  • St. Joseph-Ogden tennis rolls past St. Teresa in season opener
  • Urbana captures first win of season, Kelso leads Spartans
  • Centennial falls to Bulldogs in nonconference match at home
  • Top seven cities in the Midwest to move if you love to play tennis
  • CU is a great place for tennis; 5 really good reasons why you want play, too

    • Centennial girls tennis 2025, Urbana vs Centennial tennis results, Champaign high school sports news, Big Twelve Conference tennis scores, Illinois high school tennis updates
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    Urbana tennis shows fight with three match victories in 6-3 Defeat to Centennial

    McLean, Marshall and the Tangmunarunkit/Aksimentyeva duo claimed wins for Urbana in a 6-3 loss to Champaign Centennial.
    Alisa hits an approach shot while playing doubles
    Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

    Urbana's Alisa Aksimentyeva lunges forward to hit an approach shot while playing with partner Anyssa Tangmunarunkit during last Tuesday's match against St. Joseph-Ogden. The sophomore picked up another varsity win with Tangmunarunkit on Thursday against Centennial.

    URBANA – On an unseasonably cool Thursday at Blair Tennis Courts, Urbana’s girls tennis team notched three match victories but came up short against Champaign Centennial, falling 6-3 in a home dual.

    The "A-Team", Freshman Anyssa Tangmunarunkit and sophomore Alisa Aksimentyeva, extended their momentum in doubles, securing their second straight win together. After surviving a tight first-set tiebreaker, the pair rolled to a commanding 6-0 finish in the second to close out Centennial’s No. 3 tandem.

    Earlier at singles, Urbana junior Gwen McLean continued her steady play at No. 5, earning her second consecutive victory with a 6-2, 6-2 decision over Asma Cheema. Senior Simone Marshall added another point for the Tigers, battling her way to a straight-set victory at No. 6 singles with a 7-5, 6-4 result.

    Despite the loss, Urbana (1-2) showed growth coming off its season-opening win against St. Joseph-Ogden. The Tigers will stay at home Tuesday to host St. Thomas More before heading on the road Thursday for a matchup with Watseka.

    Match Results

    Champaign Centennial 6, Urbana 3

    Singles

    • No. 1 – Ria Modi (Centennial) def. Elianna Lee (Urbana), 6-1, 6-3
    • No. 2 – Taylor Diep (Centennial) def. Catherine Bretl (Urbana), 6-0, 6-0
    • No. 3 – Krisha Patel (Centennial) def. Ananyah Tangmunarunkit (Urbana), 6-4, 2-6, 14-12
    • No. 4 – Romi Sagiv (Centennial) def. Anyssa Tangmunarunkit (Urbana), 6-1, 6-3
    • No. 5 – Gwen McLean (Urbana) def. Asma Cheema (Centennial), 6-2, 6-2
    • No. 6 – Simone Marshall (Urbana) def. D. Patel (Centennial), 7-5, 6-4

    Doubles

    • No. 1 – Diep/Patel (Centennial) def. Lee/Tangmunarunkit (Urbana), 5-7, 7-5
    • No. 2 – Modi/Sagiv (Centennial) def. McLean/Bretl (Urbana), 6-2, 6-2
    • No. 3 – Tangmunarunkit/Aksimentyeva (Urbana) def. Patel/Cheema (Centennial), 7-6 (6), 6-0

    More stories ~
  • Madigan wins back-to-back titles at Labor Day Tournament
  • St. Joseph-Ogden tennis rolls past St. Teresa in season opener
  • Urbana captures first win of season, Kelso leads Spartans
  • Centennial falls to Bulldogs in nonconference match at home
  • Top seven cities in the Midwest to move if you love to play tennis
  • CU is a great place for tennis; 5 really good reasons why you want play, too

    • TAGGED: Urbana girls tennis 2025, Urbana vs Centennial tennis match, Blair Park Urbana sports, Urbana High School tennis results, Illinois high school girls tennis scores
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    Sherwood notches lone victory for Urbana in home loss to Morton

    URBANA - Urbana High School’s boys tennis team dropped its home match to visiting Morton on Tuesday at Blair Park, falling 8-1 in a nonconference contest. The lone win for the Tigers came courtesy of Samuel Sherwood at No. 3 singles.

    Sherwood earned a straight-sets victory over Morton’s Max Roosa, winning 6-4, 6-2, to account for Urbana’s only point on the day. He later paired with Xander Ashley in a closely contested No. 1 doubles match, falling to Morton’s Ryan Klopfenstein and Joal Larson in a super tiebreaker, 1-6, 6-2, 13-11.

    Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks
    Urbana Sam Sherwood follows through on a shot while playing against Uni-High earlier this month. The junior walked away Wednesday's match against the Potters with a victory.
    Morton swept the remaining singles and doubles matches, though Urbana pushed the Potters in several spots. At No. 2 singles, Karl Bonita took the first set before falling to Larson, 5-7, 6-2, 10-2. Zach Olson came within reach of a second team point at No. 5 singles, forcing a third-set tiebreak before ultimately dropping a 6-1, 1-6, 16-14 decision to Tate Darcy.

    In doubles, Urbana’s No. 2 team of Theodore Nevins and Gus Rund lost 6-2, 6-4, while Olson and Kavi Patel came up short at No. 3 doubles in a tight first-set tiebreaker before falling 7-6 (1), 6-2.

    Urbana is scheduled to return to the court today, facing St. Thomas More at the Atkins Tennis Center on the University of Illinois campus. First serve against the Sabers is slated for 4:30 p.m.

    Feel the Rush!

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    Uni High tops Urbana 8-1 in chilly crosstown tennis match

    Robert Gao celebrates his doubles match win over Urbana
    Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

    University High's Robert Gao celebrates after grueling doubles victory against Urbana's Karl Bonita and Santi Lleras. Narrowing taking the first set, and dropping the second, Gao and partner Kyle Fan won the tiebreak, 10-7. See more match photos below.
    URBANA - Despite less-than-favorable weather conditions—a steady breeze and temperatures in the mid-40s—at Atkins Tennis Center, the Uni High boys tennis team swept all six singles matches Tuesday in a home contest against crosstown rival Urbana High School, cruising to an 8-1 victory.

    Freshman Jameson LaFave defeated Urbana junior Xander Ashley 7-6 (5), 6-2 at No. 1 singles. Ashley bounced back in doubles, teaming with Sam Sherwood for the Tigers' lone win of the day. The Urbana duo rallied past Josh Persiani and Ian Pan at No. 2 doubles, winning 2-6, 6-1, 10-7.

    Sam Sherwood playing tennis for the Urbana Tigers
    Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

    Urbana's Sam Sherwood lines up backhand shot during his double match with partner Xander Ashley at No. 2 doubles.
    At No. 1 doubles, Urbana’s Santi Lleras and Karl Bonita dropped the first set 7-6 (5) but made dozens of sharp plays and dominated serve-plus-one points to take the second set 6-2. However, Uni High’s Robert Gao and Kyle Fan showed resilience in the third-set tiebreak, capturing the final three points after a 7-7 deadlock to close out the match.

    Urbana returns to action Wednesday for a nonconference match against St. Thomas More at Atkins. The Illineks will travel to Bloomington on Saturday before hosting St. Teresa at 4:30 p.m. Monday.

    Match Results

    Singles:
    No. 1 - Jameson LaFave, Uni def. Xander Ashley, Urbana 7-6 (5), 6-2
    No. 2 - Swapnil Kumar, Uni def. Karl Bonita, Urbana 6-1 , 6-3
    No. 3 - Robert Gao, Uni def. Santi Lleras, Urbana 6-2 , 6-2
    No. 4 - Kyle Fan, Uni def. Samuel Sherwood, Urbana 6-2 , 6-2
    No. 5 - Josh Persiani, Uni def. Theodore Nevins, Urbana 6-3 , 6-4
    No. 6 - Ian Pan, Uni def. Gus Rund, Urbana 6-2 , 1-6 , 10-5

    Doubles:
    No. 1 - Robert Gao - Kyle Fan, Uni def. Santi Lleras, Urbana - Karl Bonita, Urbana 6-3 , 2-6 , 10-7
    No. 2 - Xander Ashley - Samuel Sherwood, Urbana def. Josh Persiani - Ian Pan, Uni 2-6 , 6-1 , 10-7
    No. 3 - Collins Rosch - Tristen Ting, Uni def. Theodore Nevins - Gus Rund, Urbana 7-6 (5), 6-2
    Photo Gallery

    Santi Lleras stretches out to return a shot out wide
    Sam Sherwood celebrates a point Xander Ashley playing tennis Uni-High's Kyle Pan
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    Good spin for Tigers, Urbana tennis team downs St. Joseph at home

    Lillian Hall hits the ball back over the next during her match at #2 singles against St.Joseph-Ogden's Madison Clampitt. Hall, a senior, defeated Clampitt, 6-3 , 6-7, 7-4.

    Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks
    URBANA - The Urbana tennis team won five singles matches and all three doubles contests to defeat St. Joseph-Ogden at home Monday. The Tigers were dominant on all nine courts, winning the dual match 8-1.

    All but one of the four matches decided by a third-set tiebreaker ended in Urbana's favor. Lillian Hall won the first set 6-3 and dropped the second set 7-6 in her match at No. 2 singles against SJO's Madison Clampitt. Taking an early lead in the tiebreaker, Hall secured the win with a 7-4 finish.

    Coming off a 6-1, 6-1 loss to Danville’s Aliya Morgan, Urbana’s Ananyah Tangmunarunkit lost her first set against St. Joseph-Ogden’s Madison Farber at No. 3 singles, 6-3. Regrouping, she frustrated Farber with strong defensive play, running down good shots that could have been winners to take the second set 6-1. Tangmunarunkit, a sophomore, held on to an early lead to win 10-7 in the final set.

    The Tigers also won both doubles matches that required an extra set.

    Urbana’s Grace Coady and Lillian Hall pulled out the win at No. 1 doubles after defeating St. Joseph-Ogden duo Lily Rice and MaKennah Hamilton, 4-6, 6-2, 10-6.

    Ananyah Tangmunarunkit, a sophomore, lines up a short-angled shot during her doubles match with partner Elianna Lee. The Tigers' doubles duo beat St. Joseph-Ogden’s Ella Dieteker and Sara Kearney in a three-setter. Tangmunarunkit's singles matches was also decided after three sets.

    Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

    At No. 2 doubles, Ananyah Tangmunarunkit and Elianna Lee played an exciting match against St. Joseph-Ogden’s Ella Dieteker and Sara Kearney. The Spartan pair won the first set 6-4, thanks to outstanding net play from Kearney. The Urbana duo regrouped, keeping the ball away from SJO’s best net player to win the second set 6-2. Tied at one set apiece, Urbana won the decider 10-5.

    The Spartans’ only victory came at No. 1 singles. In a contentious battle, SJO’s Sami Kelso defeated Urbana’s Grace Coady 3-6, 7-5, 10-5.

    The Tigers are back on the courts at Blair Park next Tuesday for their final home match of the season, hosting Central.


    Final Score:
     Urbana 8 - St. Joseph-Ogden 1

    Singles:
    Samantha Kelso, SJO def. Grace Coady, Urbana, 3-6, 6-5, 10-5; Lillian Hall, Urbana def. Madison Clampitt, SJO, 6-3 , 6-7, 7-4; Ananyah Tangmunarunkit, Urbana def. Madison Farber, SJO, 4-6, 6-1, 10-7; Elianna Lee, Urbana def. Ainsley Rhoten, SJO, 6-2, 6-2; Gwen McLean, Urbana def. Audrie Helfrich, SJO, 6-0, 6-4; Amani Brown, Urbana def. Avarie Dietiker, SJO, 6-4, 6-2.

    Doubles:
    Grace Coady - Lillian Hall, Urbana def. Lily Rice - MaKennah Hamilton, SJO, 4-6, 6-2, 10-6; Ananyah Tangmunarunkit - Elianna Lee, Urbana def. Ella Dieteker - Sara Kearney, SJO, 4-6, 6-2, 10-5; Catherine Bretl - Amani Brown, Urbana def. Audrey Benoit - Claire Hartman, SJO, 7-6, 6-0.

    St. Joe-Ogden Athletics
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    Kelso wins one for SJO

    URBANA - St. Joseph-Ogden's Sami Kelso hits a forehand during her match against Urbana's Grace Coady on Monday at Blair Park. Kelso, who lost to Coady earlier in the season, prevailed via 6-3, 7-6 victory at #1 singles for the Spartans' only individual win. The SJO tennis team dropped the non-conference match 8-1 to the host Tigers. More Sentinel photos from this match are coming soon.

    Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks
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