Archmere Girls Tennis Captures State Championship in Historic Fashion
After several seasons of coming close, Archmere Academy’s girls tennis team left no doubt in 2026. The Auks delivered a dominant performance at the DIAA State Tournament on May 20th at St. Andrew’s School, sweeping all five individual championships to secure the program’s first state title since 2009. The Auks made history by becoming the first girls tennis team since 2016 to sweep every individual state title, only the second time the feat has been accomplished in tournament history.
Archmere entered the final round needing just one championship victory to clinch the team title, and freshman Caroline Jiao provided the breakthrough moment. The second-seeded Jiao defeated St. Andrew’s Mikaila Mastrandrea, 6-0, 6-0, at fourth singles to officially secure the championship for the Auks.
“It feels really good,” Jiao said to Mike Lang of the Dialog. “I’m happy to be part of this team. We did really well this season, and it’s nice to end up on a good note.” The victory capped an extraordinary season for Archmere, finishing undefeated at 15-0 while losing only two individual matches all year. The championship marked the sixth state title in program history.
Sophomore Akilah Yu, the top seed at second singles, followed Caroline Jiao with a commanding 6-1, 6-1 victory over Caesar Rodney’s Addy Vu. After falling short in last year’s semifinals, Yu embraced the opportunity on the championship stage. Per the Dialog: “I was hoping to play my best,” Yu said. “It’s really special that I got to pull through the finals.”
At third singles, senior Susie Shipley captured her second career individual state title with a 6-2, 6-2 win over Wilmington Charter’s Emma Li. Shipley, who also won as a sophomore, brought energy and emotion to the courts as teammates gathered to cheer her on in the afternoon heat. “It makes me feel wonderful, especially having such an amazing team this year,” Shipley is quoted as stating. “We just had fun playing our matches, and it was one match at a time, and now we’re here.”
The doubles teams completed the sweep in dramatic fashion. Sophomores Jessica Li and Lauren Nguyen defended their first doubles state championship with a hard-fought 7-5, 7-5 victory over Tower Hill’s Lily Leung and Eva Cai.
Moments later, seniors Emily Shipley and Rebecca Wang secured the final championship of the day at second doubles, defeating Tower Hill’s Anna Kayiaros and Leanna Geerts, 6-1, 7-5.
For Wang, the win was especially meaningful after helping lead the Auks to years of strong finishes that fell just short of the team title. “To get a team trophy, especially since this is my senior year, it’s ending with a bang,” Wang said. “It’s been a great season, the best so far.”
Emily Shipley, who will attend Wake Forest University alongside her sister Susie this fall, reflected on the special bond shared by the team throughout the season. “It means the world to me,” she said. “My teammates and my coaches are the most important to me.”
Head coach Michael Hamilton praised the team’s focus, chemistry, and determination throughout the championship run when he spoke to news outlets. “Always knocking on the door,” Hamilton said. “This was our year. We had a great group of girls, focused and determined.”
Hamilton referred to his seven varsity players as “the magnificent seven,” adding that they were “phenomenal players and even better teammates.”
With an undefeated record, a complete sweep of the state finals, and a long-awaited championship trophy, the 2026 Archmere girls tennis team secured its place among the best in school history.
Archmere Academy is a private, Catholic, college preparatory co-educational academy,
grades 9-12 founded in 1932 by the Norbertine Fathers.
grades 9-12 founded in 1932 by the Norbertine Fathers.
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