After playing five games, the Poly girls tennis team currently holds a 3-2 record, and they look to improve tremendously as the season progresses. With leadership from head coach Manual Davila, the roster has quickly adjusted after losing some strong seniors last spring. “The freshmen are doing a great job filling in for them,” said sophomore Maggie Tsay.
“Our varsity team is made up of a lot of underclassmen, and I’m looking forward to seeing how they progress this year,” junior co-captain Malia Mohandesi also noted.
Mohandesi, who leads the team alongside senior and co-captain Maddie Delbridge, shared, “I hope this year we all focus on our stamina and overall just maturing as a team.” With a roster that is heavily composed of freshmen and sophomores, a supportive environment is crucial to the success of the team.
Although they lost last year in the first round of CIF, Mohandesi expressed her aspirations for this season: “I hope that we can pass at least round one of CIF, which we lost last year. Every year I hope we outdo ourselves from the previous season.”
With a first-round exit still fresh in their minds, the players are motivated to push themselves even further this fall. In order to be successful during CIF, the players must train in the off-season to hone their skills and build consistency. For instance, Mohandesi, a year-round player, worked outside of the season to improve her game and mentality during and before matches. She also worked on her endurance to survive long, close games where every ball and hit matters.
The team began practicing in early August under the blazing Pasadena sun. Tsay commented, “We held summer practices and focused on strategy and doubles team building by figuring out our lineup early.”
While training is beneficial for a team, analyzing games from last year and learning from previous mistakes is equally as important. Mohandesi shared her experience training last season, noting, “I learned the importance of team synergy and confidence.”
She explained that a lack of confidence and team negativity cost them games last year, emphasizing the need for a stronger bond between teammates.
During the Panthers’ recent game against La Serna on Friday, Aug. 29th, the team had a rough start, but the momentum began to flip in the second round as they won five out of six matches. Freshmen, including Chloe Shyu, Olivia Lee, and Abby Cunningham, played particularly well, considering it was only their third ever high school game. Although they faced off in the intense heat, the team was able to squeeze out some clean wins toward the end of the match for a nail-biting 10-8 win.
As the season continues, the girls’ tennis team hopes to continue adding wins to their record. With the coaching and guidance of Davila, the experience of upperclassmen, and the intense drive of the underclassmen, girls’ tennis is prepared for a breakout season.