EAST PROVIDENCE — It was a day expectedly full of firsts for the East Providence High School girls’ tennis team as the Townies christened the new complex on campus with a resounding 7-0 victory over visiting Exeter-West Greenwich Tuesday afternoon, Sept. 27.

EPHS improved to 6-1 in the Division III standings at the time. The next day the Townies, likewise, dispatched visiting Johnston with similar ease, 7-0, in the second varsity match on the new courts.

“The first match on the new courts was a very different experience for us,” said EPHS interim head coach Slade Sharma. “With these modern and up to date courts with every amenity we could ask for, our girls get a great opportunity to go out and compete to the best of their abilities.”

He continued, “We always want to go out there and represent the school to the best of our ability and defending our home court for first time in nearly two seasons meant a lot to us. I’m proud of the team for the way they went out and got the job done.”

The Townies certainly did that and more in their complex debut. The EPHS tennis programs, including the boys’ squad, have called the KendBrin Swim & Tennis Club in Riverside their temporary home the last few years while the new EPHS building and grounds were completely rebuilt.

The girls’ team was able to practice on the new “U.S. Open” blue courts with red surrounds the three days prior to the inaugural match. The area was still a work in progress. Landscaping elements remained unfinished and lighting was not yet functional.

Freshman Hope Moran accounted for the first-ever point for the Townies at their new digs against the visiting Scarlet Knights last Tuesday with a straight-sets (6-1 6-2) win at third singles.

Lena Shanty followed with an exact result at the No. 2 position and E.P.’s No. 2 doubles team of Paris Martin-Tianna Brierly claimed the first-ever tandems point on the new courts with their victory at love over their EWG opposition.

Next off, Katelyn Furtado, subbing for the ill Santana Pannone, added a 7-6, 6-2 win at the four spot to earn the fourth-and-deciding point in the overall match.

Later, East Providence’s No. 1 singles player Jaelyn Dasilva rallied after losing the first set 5-7 to win her match with 2-and-1 scores over the final two sets. Isabella Hurley and Caroline Haggerty also needed three sets, 6-4 in the third, to win their match at first dubs for the Townies. Margaret Robinson and Emma Gillheeney added the seventh EPHS point with their 1-and-0 win at third pairs.

“I this this will be first win of many to come on these new courts by both tennis teams that represent East Providence,” Sharma added, referring to the EPHS boys’ tennis team for which he serves as an assistant coach. Those Townies won their Division III championship last spring while also using KendBrin as their home base.

“Our student athletes are being properly invested in with the addition of our new courts,” Sharma continued. “I believe that these courts will be a large reason why the tennis programs here at East Providence continue to grow in the future.”

The next afternoon, September 28, the Townies improved to 7-1 in the league with a 7-0 win over visiting Johnston.

Dasilva won her match atop the order 6-0, 7-6. Shanty followed with a 1-and-2 win at second while Moran was a 1-and-5 winner at third. Furtado won at fourth singles 2-and-2.

In doubles, the Townies’ one duo of Hurley and Haggerty were 6-3, 6-2 winners. The No. 2 doubles team of Martin-Brierly won by the opposite scores. And Robinson and Gillheeney were 5-and-1 winners at No. 3.

East Providence entered its last outing of the week, a road match at Cranston East Friday afternoon, Sept. 30, in third place in the D-III standings behind only unbeatens Bay View, against whom they lost 4-3 earlier in the season, and Scituate, whom they are slated to face on the road in two week’s time.