The girls varsity tennis team, reloaded with new talented underclassmen, are led by senior captains Ava Teng and Dylan Lam. With the new arrival of Head coach Olivier Harmenil, who promises to lead the Panthers to new levels of success, the girls tennis team has already propelled to a solid 2-1 record and is set to kick off league play.
When asked about the team’s strengths and weaknesses, Harmenil stated, “One of our biggest assets is our dedication — everyone shows up ready to work hard each day.” The biggest standout quality of the girls tennis team is the team spirit; they support each other, both on and off the court, creating a positive environment and strong camaraderie. Regarding areas of growth, however, the team still requires more work and focus to stay consistent, especially during longer, challenging matches.
“We struggle with maintaining focus and adjusting our strategies when faced with tougher opponents,” said Harmenil. “We need to increase our intensity during doubles matches as well.”
After a tough 7-11 loss to San Marino, sophomore Malia Mohandesi commented on the loss, “We had a new coach, new players and practically a new team, we needed to get to know each other better.” With a new and unfamiliar roster, improving the team’s chemistry on the court will be the defining factor for the success of the upcoming league play.
After the first loss, players highlighted how the loss motivated them to practice and refine their skills. Their new sense of confidence allowed them to enter their games against Mark Keppel and Monrovia ready to dominate. With this new momentum, the Panthers bounced back from their initial loss by defeating Mark Keppel (14-4) and Monrovia (17-1). The Panthers foresee a strong season ahead with a well-balanced mix of underclassman talent and upperclassman experience.
After just three games, senior captain Ava Teng is confident the team will grow stronger and stronger as the season goes on and has big goals for her final season as a Panther: “We have some solid new players, so I believe we have a shot at league champions,” she noted.
The team’s focus for the long season ahead will be maintaining their team spirit, continuing to work hard on and off the court, continuing to develop their chemistry, and honing their skills. In the following week, the Panthers look to start league play and begin a challenging and uphill journey to Prep League champions against Chadwick on Sept. 13 and rivals Flintridge Prep on Sept. 18.
As their schedule gets tougher down the road, the Panthers will need to come together as a team and focus on continuously working to improve each day in hopes of a great season.
