Trojans clinch SEC title

FAIRFIELD — The Fairfield girls tennis team needed just one more win to lock up the 2025 SEC team title, and the Trojans didn’t waste time getting it done, knocking off Burlington 7-2 on Monday evening.

The Trojans came in with zero losses in the conference, and the Grayhounds had just one, a similar loss to Fairfield earlier in the season. That meant the Trojans had to end the conference campaign against its biggest threat.

“I did give them a little pep-talk,” said head coach Travis Dunkin. “We were fortunate enough to beat Burlington the last time, but we knew whoever won today was going to be the conference champ.”

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The Trojans won five singles matches to put the contest away earlier. Poojita Mukadam and Natalie Steele took the first two battles once again, with Mukadam winning 8-2 at No. 1, and Steele winning 8-3 at No. 2.

Ria Ross, Sriya Yammanur and Faeven Gebremariam played at No. 3, No. 4 and No. 5 respectively. All three won their matches 8-1 to lock up the victory.

“Our goal to start out the season was to become back-to-back champions, and we set our sites on it,” said Coach Dunkin. “Obviously, our higher goals are to go to state, but to secure conference is a huge accomplishment.”

The Trojans won two matches in doubles. Ross and Yammanur dominated the No. 1 doubles match 8-0, while Mukadam and Tula Sorflaten battled to a 9-8 (12-10) thriller at No. 2.

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Fairfield’s No. 2 doubles team of Maryn Dunkin and Gebremariam fell 8-5.

Fairfield now sets its focus on the postseason. The Trojans (9-0) met up with fellow SEC competitors Mt. Pleasant, Burlington, Fort Madison and Keokuk for the league’s indidivual and doubles tournament on Wednesday, and will begin individual and doubles tournament play one week later, on Sept. 17.