In a rematch of the NorCal and CCS Championship matches, the Menlo girls’ tennis team took back the Challenge Cup trophy after a hard-fought 4-3 victory over friendly rival Monta Vista on Tuesday at Alpine Hills.

Last year, Menlo lost to Monta Vista in the Challenge Cup and the Tyler Nii at the start of the season, then defeated MV in the CCS Championship and NorCal title game. As was the case last season, the match went down to the wire.

Knights junior top seed Elise Chen was the first winner before No. 3 doubles Sulia Gayle and Rosalyn Zhou also won in straight sets. Monta Vista won at Nos. 2-4 singles, including a tough super tiebreak at No.2 singles. Menlo’s Milla Bardony and Anna Yang won at No.2 singles and with the score knotted at three, Menlo’s Kate Hsia and Sophia Jia went to a second-set tiebreak at 4-4 before pulling away for the team win.

The Knights move to 2-1 under new coach Francis Sargeant, who had Menlo legendary coach Bill Shine as a volunteer assistant helping the team.

Menlo 4, Monta Vista 3

at Alpine Hills

Elise Chen (M) d. Lelani Laruelle 6-4, 6-1; Lucy Yung (MV) d. Izzy Klugman 7-6 (5), 3-6, 10-4; Jillian Yang (MV) d. Emily Li 6-0, 6-3; Niranjaha Sankar (MV) d. Allison Zhou 6-0, 6-1.

Doubles - Kate Hsia-Sophia Jia (M) d. Zoe Laruelle-Lisa Yoshida 6-3, 7-6 (4); Milla Bardony-Anna Yang (M) d. Diya Sammana-Eva Tian 6-2, 6-2; Sulia Gayle-Rosalyn Zhou (M) d. Arianna Fu-Yarosha Iyengar 6-3, 6-2.