09/11/2024
Varsity girls’ tennis led a series of commanding victories against Menlo-Atherton High School on Tuesday, Sept. 10. The team swept all doubles and singles matches except for the No. 1 singles match in their first league contest.
Although No. 1 singles’ player junior Samantha Tom lost 6-1, she gained new insights from the game.
“It’s my first time at singles, and I know the competition at that level is really high, so I learned different strategies,” Tom said.
No. 3 singles’ player sophomore Shea Mulready felt the match helped her regain momentum, with a decisive 6-2, 6-1 victory.
“[This game] really helped me gain confidence,” Mulready said.. “I think I was playing consistent and hitting a hard ball.”
Along with the strong singles performances, the doubles teams also dominated against Menlo-Atherton. No. 2 doubles partners, junior Lyra Sheng and senior Ella Wang, lost the first set but quickly bounced back, winning the second set 6-2 and securing the tie-breaker.
A key part of the duo’s success is their strong dynamic, whose support for each other on the court helped them overcome challenges. Sheng felt she struggled with her serves during the match, but her partner’s encouragement made all the difference.
“One of the best parts of Ella is the fact that whenever I get frustrated on my serves, she’s like ‘Hey, it’s alright, don’t worry,’ and then I feel better,” Sheng said.
Teamwork has been crucial in the Panthers’ strong start to the season as the Panthers look to continue building on their early success. They will now prepare for their next match on Thursday, Sept. 12 at San Mateo High School, followed by a home match on Tuesday, Sept. 17, against Carlmont High School.
(Photos and reporting: K. Hwang)