by John Osborn ·
Friday, June 5, 2026
Senior Khivi Nanra returns a shot as her first doubles partner Meghna Nambiar watches. (Photo by Jen Manell)
The four courts at Bromfield School were still damp from a day of rain when girls tennis coach Chris Holmes arrived Monday afternoon to sweep away twigs and pollen and prepare for the team’s upcoming round of 16 match against No. 12 seed Rising Tide Charter School of Plymouth.
By the time the game got underway at 4:30 p.m., the courts were dry, and by 6:30 p.m., under partly sunny skies and a chill that had settled in at 63 degrees, the No. 5 seed Trojans had won 4-1, joining the Elite 8 teams of this year’s Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association Division 4 Girls Tennis Tournament.
First singles player Michelle Xu led the way, defeating Lucy Koenig 6-0, 6-1. Koenig had not lost a match all season. Xu kept her opponent moving throughout, breaking five of six Koenig service games while losing none of her own. When Koenig twice caught Xu at the net with passing shots to her backhand, Xu adjusted. She won her match point with a volley to Koenig’s right corner, out of reach. “She really dominated the match,” Holmes said.
Misha Kalava at second singles and Nina Livornese at third singles each won 6-0, 6-1. At first doubles, Khivi Nanra and Meghna Nambiar won 6-0, 6-0. It was Nanra’s first match back after an injury sidelined her May 12 against Wayland. Holmes said he hoped she would remain healthy.
Rising Tide claimed one victory, winning second doubles, with Helena Osmanski and Evelyn Huamani defeating Fatima Mulyono and Anji Ramkumar 6-1, 6-2. It was Ramkumar’s third varsity match and the first in which she won games.
The match got a late start. Rising Tide had not expected to need a second doubles team, and players Osmanski and Huamani had to take time to suit up after arriving. Play began around 4:30 p.m., after team introductions.
According to Rising Tide’s athletics Instagram account, the loss to Bromfield closed out the program’s most successful season, including its first win in an MIAA tournament. Meanwhile, Bromfield advances to the quarterfinals, where it will face either No. 4 seed Amesbury or No. 13 seed Sturgis Charter School East. The two were scheduled to play their round of 16 match on Monday but a bus breakdown pushed their match to Wednesday. If Amesbury wins, Bromfield will travel to their site. A date for the quarterfinal had not been set as of Monday evening.
Michelle Xu hits a backhand shot during the first singles playoff game against Rising Tide Charter. (Photo by Jen Manell)
MIAA Division 4 Girls Tennis
State Tournament, Round of 16
Bromfield 4, Rising Tide Charter 1
- First singles: Michelle Xu (Bromfield) defeated Lucy Koenig (Rising Tide), 6-0, 6-1
- Second singles: Misha Kalava (B) def. Dylan Mason (RT), 6-0, 6-1
- Third singles: Nina Livornese (B) def. Cassidy Maciel (RT), 6-0, 6-1
- First doubles: Khivi Nanra and Meghna Nambiar (B) def. Katelyn Scoller and Isla Kelley (RT), 6-0, 6-0
- Second doubles: Helena Osmanski and Evelyn Huamani (RT) def. Fatima Mulyono and Anji Ramkumar (B), 6-1, 6-2