The girls tennis team narrowly fell short of the Carlmont Scots 4-3 on Thursday afternoon.
Doubles one freshman Milan Tian and sophomore Alexandra Tong were the first off the court. Despite the Bears’ powerful groundstrokes and reliable recovery lobs, Carlmont cut through their defense and took the first set 6-0. The second set played out better for M-A as they worked hard on communication and strengthening their volleys. Still, the Scots overpowered them through outstanding teamwork and exemplary shots, winning 6-1.
“[I] felt demotivated because we lost the first [set],” Tian said. “[Coach] Shani gave me the pep talk, so I felt a bit better.”
Next off the court was the doubles two match, with senior Julia Maggio and freshman Harriet Gillis. The Scots managed to take both sets 6-3 and 6-1, using their well-grounded net game to outvolley the Bears. Even with the loss, Maggio and Gillis showed strength when attacking toward the net.
However, doubles three, consisting of juniors Julianne Hanson and Anna Kate Brown, experienced better results. After winning the first set 6-3 and dropping the second 6-2, Hanson and Brown regained their momentum with a narrow 11-9 win in a tiebreak.
“I was a little bit stressed, but to be honest, I thought it would be fine. I kind of thought we would win,” Brown said.
Singles two junior Adeleine Soltys was defeated, fighting in a close game with her strategically placed cross-court backhand. Despite her efforts to push forward, attacking into the court, Carlmont maintained a lead through well-rounded defense and formidable counters. The Scots ultimately took the win 6-4, 7-5.
Bringing back the spirit, freshman Emma Snyder dominated against her opponent in the singles three match. “I think she had really good shots,” she said. “I just stayed pretty consistent.” Snyder demonstrated this as she furiously defended dropshots and returned them with vigor, allowing her to claim a clean 6-3, 6-3 win.
Sophomore Lucia Rose*, playing singles four, was beaten by a slim margin, dropping both sets 7-5 and 7-5. Regardless of the final score, Rose displayed tremendous fight and energy in her play, opting for aggressive shots and put-aways that constantly challenged her opponent.
Last off the court was singles one senior Marissa Hou*. Hou had an evenly matched opponent, playing long rallies and fighting for each point. Despite her opponent’s relentless advances, Hou’s consistent shots allowed her to claim the first set 6-4. Her opponent, however, was unfazed and crushed the second set 6-0. Finally, in a long and gruesome tiebreaker, Hou stayed resilient to come out on top with a dominant score of 10-8.
Even with their consistent energy and relentless effort, M-A ultimately lost by a narrow margin, 4-3.
The Bears will return to the court to face off against the San Mateo Bearcats at home on Tuesday at 4 p.m.
*Marissa Hou and Lucia Rose are journalists for the M-A Chronicle.
