The boys varsity tennis team beat the Wellesley Raiders 4-1 in their semifinal match on Monday, June 12. This win extended the Warriors’ undefeated streak to 23 matches, setting the stage for the MIAA Division I finals match against Lexington on Sunday, June 18 at 4:30 p.m at the duPont Tennis Courts at MIT.

The Warriors took command of the match from the start, asserting their dominance against the Raiders. Sophomore Deven Devaiah claimed the first singles match with a series of stellar shots in his first set, winning 6-3, 6-2.

Head coach Mike Mowatt said he was pleased with the team’s performance and resilience.

“My guys got off to a good start,” Mowatt said. “Some of my guys let them back into the game a little bit, but I knew that they were going to try and make changes and use different strategies to bounce back.”

Junior Dhevin Nahata won in second singles, securing a hard-fought victory in the first set and winning the match 6-4, 6-2. Nahata played with confidence and finesse during his match, which was the center of attention of fans from both high schools.

Nahata said the match was reflective of the Warriors’ control during the regular season and that he is confident that their winning streak will continue.

Sophomore Peter Khudyakov won in third singles, dominating his opponent with an outstanding 7-5, 6-0 performance. His precision and intensity on the court helped to counter the impressive slices of his opponent.

With a combination of experience and youth, Mowatt said that the Warriors are heading into the championship with the lessons learned from last year’s final and that they plan to prepare with a scrimmage before the final on Sunday.

Mowatt said the team is prepared, excited and mentally strong as they approach the final.

“Our team has good heads on their shoulders and can figure out players on their own,” Mowatt said. “We’ve been here before, and we know what we’re doing.”

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