Photos: As First Lady looks on, Kastles clinch home-court advantage

By Zach Montellaro

July 23, 2014

First Lady Michelle Obama visited the Smith Center Tuesday for the Washington Kastle’s last regular season home match. Zach Montellaro | Hatchet Staff Photographer

Fans at the Smith Center had two reasons to be excited Tuesday night: not only did the Washington Kastles defeat the Springfield Lasers 4-1, but First Lady Michelle Obama was there to cheer on the home team.

The win for the Kastles clinched home-court advantage for the team, which will now host the Eastern Conference Championships on Thursday.

Michael Russell of the Springfield Lasers high-fives local children during prematch introductions. Zach Montellaro | Hatchet Staff Photographer — Michael Russell of the Springfield Lasers gives low fives to local children during pre-match introductions. Zach Montellaro | Hatchet Staff Photographer

Kastles player Bobby Reynolds fell 3-5 in the men's singles set. Zach Montellaro | Hatchet Staff Photographer — Kastles player Bobby Reynolds fell 3-5 in the men’s singles set. Zach Montellaro | Hatchet Staff Photographer

A Kastles cheerleader performs in the pre-match announcements. Zach Montellaro | Hatchet Staff Photographer — A Kastles cheerleader performs during the pre-match announcements. Zach Montellaro | Hatchet Staff Photographer

Fans hold up giant cutouts of Kastles player Bobby Reynold's head during Tuesday's match. Zach Montellaro | Hatchet Staff Photographer — Fans hold up cutouts of Kastles player Bobby Reynold’s head during Tuesday’s match. Zach Montellaro | Hatchet Staff Photographer

First Lady Michelle Obama watched as the Kastles clinched home court advantage for the Eastern Conference Championships. Zach Montellaro | Hatchet Staff Photographer — First Lady Michelle Obama watched as the Kastles clinched home-court advantage for the Eastern Conference Championships. Zach Montellaro | Hatchet Staff Photographer

Kastles player Sloane Stephens won the women's singles set 5-2. Zach Montellaro | Hatchet Staff Photographer — Kastles player Sloane Stephens won the women’s singles set 5-2. Zach Montellaro | Hatchet Staff Photographer

Washington Kastles Head Coach Murphy Jensen pumps up the crowd during Tuesday's match. Zach Montellaro | Hatchet Staff Photographer — Washington Kastles Head Coach Murphy Jensen pumps up the crowd during Tuesday’s match. Zach Montellaro | Hatchet Staff Photographer

Leander Paes returns a serve. Paes and Bobby Reynolds won the men's doubles set 5-4. Zach Montellaro | Hatchet Staff Photographer — Leander Paes returns a serve. Paes and Reynolds won the men’s doubles set 5-4. Zach Montellaro | Hatchet Staff Photographer

Leander Paes serves the ball over his partner Martina Hingis. They won the mixed doubles set 5-2. Zach Montellaro | Hatchet Staff Photographer

The Kastles are vying to four-peat this year for the World TeamTennis National Championship, but first must defeat the Philadelphia Freedoms in the Eastern Conference Championship on Thursday.

Tickets for the match start at $15, and the winner will go on the face the Western Conference Champions for the National title on Sunday.

The GW Hatchet

The GW Hatchet

Photos: As First Lady looks on, Kastles clinch home-court advantage