The Highline College women’s tennis team ended their season on a high note, winning the 2025 NWAC Championship on Saturday with a thrilling 5-4 victory over Treasure Valley at the Yakima Tennis Club. It’s the program’s second title, and, with the NWAC tennis program ending, they go out as the final champions.

The match came down to the last two singles games. With Highline up 4-3, sophomore Caley Buchan battled through a three-set match against TVCC’s Reese Beyrouty at No. 2 singles. After splitting the first two sets, Buchan edged out a 10-8 tiebreaker win to clinch the championship for the Thunderbirds.

Highline’s top player, Sophia Crosby, was named NWAC Baden Player of the Year after going undefeated in both singles and doubles during the tournament. She won her final singles match in straight sets (6-3, 6-1) against Elena Henry, and teamed up with Buchan to win No. 1 doubles 8-3.

Other wins for Highline came from Anna Shved, who beat Brenda Ramirez 6-2, 6-1 at No. 3 singles. Shved and Zanna Orvald also picked up a win at No. 2 doubles, defeating Henry and Ramirez.

Treasure Valley stayed close throughout the match, picking up three singles wins and one in doubles. Charlee Bennett beat Highline’s Adriana Barbee 7-5, 6-4 at No. 4, Zavier Lake won 6-2, 6-3 over Jeslyn Berry at No. 5, and Fabiola Perez came back to win a three-set match against Orvald at No. 6. Perez and Ogaly Juarez also won at No. 3 doubles.

Despite a 7-9 overall season, Highline went 5-1 in conference play and finished strong, winning their last three matches, including a semifinal victory over Spokane.

For Adriana Barbee, the win was both exciting and meaningful. “It feels really great being the last NWAC champs,” she said. “The blood we put into achieving this tournament, into every match.”

Barbee, a freshman, said her favorite part of the season wasn’t just the tennis. “Any time on and off the court, with this great team, each other,” she said. She also shared that she’s planning to continue her tennis career next year at Mesa Community College in Arizona.

When asked about leadership on the team, Barbee said it was a shared effort: “There wasn’t any one team leader—everyone pushed each other when someone was down.”

Highline head coach Laura Rosa was recognized with the Wally Heindenson Sportsmanship Award, while Treasure Valley’s Mark Heleker was named Coach of the Year.

In the third-place match, Spokane defeated Bellevue in another close battle earlier in the day.

Watching from the sidelines, Sophia Crosby’s mom, Alison Crosby, was proud of the team’s performance. “We drove all the way from Utah to here,” she said. “Watching and supporting my daughter.” She added that Sophia hopes to transfer to the University of Texas at Austin next year and continue her education, possibly continuing tennis.

As the final NWAC tennis season ends, the Thunderbirds can proudly say they went out on top.