The girls tennis team defeated the Sequoia Ravens 5-2 for their senior match on Tuesday afternoon.
The team exchanged posters and gifts to commemorate senior night. Their teammates and coaches presented speeches to each senior, congratulating and complimenting them on their contributions and their time on the team.
First off the court was singles two junior Adeleine Soltys. Soltys showed her smart game with precise volleying. Up 3-1, Soltys stayed focused on her groundstrokes and kept her composure throughout the set, leading to a 6-1 victory.
In the second set, Soltys continued to play with intensity and control, taking a 4-2 lead before her opponent was forced to forfeit due to injury.
Doubles two, consisting of seniors Julia Maggio and Aarushi Srivastava, had great success. The Bears used a very methodical and consistent playstyle, waiting for the opponents to slip up. Through their incredible display, M-A steadily took the first set 6-2.
The second set worked out even better for them. Carrying their momentum from the first set, Maggio hit her signature down-the-line passing shot on the Ravens, closing the second set 6-1.
“I felt like I was pretty consistent, maybe more than usual. A lot of my returns went over the net,” Maggio said.
The Bears didn’t stop there. Doubles three, with senior Keira Stott and junior Anna Kate Brown, crushed the competition 6-1, 6-1. Even though this was their first match together, they still demonstrated exceptional teamwork and coordination, leaving no inch of the court unguarded.
“I was just really happy to be playing with [Brown]. I really enjoyed playing with her, and I hadn’t played with her all season, so it was just really fun,” Scott said.
Leading the lineup at singles one, senior Marissa Hou showcased powerful serving, patience, and consistency throughout her match. Despite facing an opponent with powerful groundstrokes and strong defense, Hou continued to fight in the first set, but ended up falling 6-2.
Hou entered the second set with a fresh mindset, staying focused and battling out all of her points before ultimately losing 6-3. Despite the loss, Hou maintained her determination and continued competing all the way up to the final point.
In a thrilling match at singles four, sophomore Lucia Rose turned up the intensity with powerful groundstrokes and an impressive comeback. After dropping the first set 6-4, Rose bounced back in the second, fighting for every point to secure a 7-5 win. She carried her momentum into the deciding tiebreak, winning 10-6 to complete an impressive comeback victory.
Freshman Emma Snyder dominated the singles three match. Snyder demonstrated elite accuracy and smart selection, playing strategically against her opponent and staying patient throughout the match. Up 3-1, Snyder continued to control the pace with consistent groundstrokes and accurate volleys. Her composure and ability to capitalize on opportunities helped her secure a commanding 6-1, 6-1 victory.
“I feel like I’ve kind of grown in not even just my form, but also how I strategize and how I think about the game before getting into it,” Snyder said.
Ending off the games was a close doubles one match with freshman Milan Tian and sophomore Alexandra Tong. The Bears targeted Sequoia’s weak volleys, allowing them to take a quick first set 6-2.
Despite their initial momentum, the Ravens adapted to the Bears’ strategy, dragging the points into a long groundstroke rally rather than shorter volley gameplay. M-A attempted to recover, but Sequoia still took the second set 7-5.
Finally, entering the tiebreak, both the Bears and the Ravens refused to back down, relentlessly scrambling to get the next ball back into the court. In the end, Sequoia’s superior backhand allowed them to pull ahead and win the tiebreak 10-8.
Through an impressive display of teamwork and determination, the Bears secured a 5-2 victory while celebrating the dedication and leadership their seniors demonstrated throughout the season.
The Bears will play the Woodside Wildcats away on Monday at 3:30 p.m.
Marissa Hou, Aarushi Srivastava, and Lucia Rose are journalists for the M-A Chronicle.
