By Katherine Chan
This past Thursday, Oct. 23, the girl’s varsity tennis team played against Huntington Beach High School (HBHS) before California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) matches began. The team fought hard but ultimately lost with the final score of 8-10. Nonetheless, the Lady Barons showed great sportsmanship, energy and resilience throughout the game.
“We already knew that we had a couple injuries and sicknesses and it’s Senior Day, so we had all the seniors play,” head coach Harschul Patel said. “We still [lost] 8-10 but with this loss, we’re still finishing second in our league with eight wins and four losses, which is an outstanding performance for our league. We [also had] one of the weakest lineups today.”
Despite the loss, there were various key players including senior Sophia Do and sophomore Gwendolyn Nguyen in no. 3 doubles. Additionally, seniors Chloe Vu, Kendra Ly and Jaslyn Nguyen stood out on the court with their strong technique and drive.
Patel said, “Those players have hardly lost any matches. They’ve gone in and played and did really [well] throughout the whole season. So today, they again stood out. They all won their matches and I think we are really excited about the upcoming CIF matches now.”
The team carried out many well executed matches despite the loss. Nguyen and Ly in no. 2 doubles used their quick reaction time, footwork and communication to win both of their matches with the final score of 6-1 and 6-3. Throughout the match they maintained consistent communication and had explosive shots. Nguyen and Ly played aggressive matches at the baseline and kept HBHS on their toes.
Vu was a notable player winning 6-2 and 6-0 in no. 3 singles. She played intense matches and fiercely attacked all areas of the court. Each rally was fast-paced and electric. Her swings were precisely calculated and she drove each ball deep in the court holding the HBHS players back.
Do and Nguyen dominated in no. 3 doubles with a commanding 6-0 victory. Their strong returns and serves set the tone early in the game, keeping HBHS on defense. They were all-court players and worked together with ease. They performed strong, consistent shots leading to many exciting rallies. Throughout the match, they played with strategy and force.
Moreover, Do and sophomore Gabriella Budhina were unstoppable in no. 3 doubles, winning 6-4 and 6-1 against the HBHSD Oilers. They played with top spin and quick reflexes. Each shot naturally flowed from player to player. They worked together to easily put away the ball with efficiency.
Although senior Erica Caroll lost her matches against difficult opponents in no. 2 singles, she never backed down and stayed determined through each of her matches. She returned each ball with speed and accuracy. Her backhand was precise and glided across the court with agility. Caroll showed great athleticism and endurance during the game.
“I wanted to give the opportunity to all the seniors who’ve been here for years, working really hard and being part of the team,” Patel said. “This last match was for them. So, we didn’t worry about results today at all. For us, it was all about seniors having fun, and getting their last matches in before they take off.”
Overall, our Lady Barons fought hard during this last game of the season with a relatively tight score against Huntington Beach, supporting each other until the very end. With eight wins and only four losses, the girls advance into CIF league matches with confidence.
