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“Whose house? Lowell’s house!” blasts through the air as the girls’ tennis team cheers on their players at every one of their matches.
 Junior Nina Liu is one of the few players returning for the next season. Yvette To |
After remaining undefeated in the regular season and winning the AAA Championship, the girls were ready to take their good form to Antioch for Nor-Cals on Nov. 21. The rain poured for six hours straight; although it was not the most ideal weather, it was a great learning experience, according to junior doubles player Rahwa Gebreslasse.
The team has worked hard as a unit, successfully overcoming obstacles that might have stopped them from winning the title, such as the loss of key players who graduated last year. This showed on Oct. 23 when the Cardinals pulled through to win the AAA Championships. “Even when we are driving to matches, we build chemistry because we know how to communicate with each other,” senior singles player and captain Sally Ness said. “We are proud of each other.”
That day at the Golden Gate Park tennis courts, the team seized the moment against the Washington Eagles, winning its 13th consecutive AAA title. The match against the Eagles was expected to be a little more challenging than the Cardinals’ previous matches due to Washington’s acquisition of highly skilled freshman singles player Tipper Truong. Nevertheless, the Cardinals outdid themselves with an the undefeated score of 7-0. “It was a great victory,” junior singles player Karen Etin said.
The team has been strengthening the bond of both friendship and partnership throughout this season, participating in team challenges such as a rock-climbing course. On Dec. 4, the team was provided funds from their bake sale for a trip to Mission Cliffs for a memorable rock-climbing experience. The trip not only was a bonding experience but it also was a challenging task for the Cardinals in terms of facing any fear of heights and getting outside their usual comfort zones, according to coach Jimmy Rosenheim. “We got to hang out with each other and also learn to rely on each other,” junior singles player Nina Liu said.
On Dec. 3, the coach helped the team mix it up during practice with Doubles Matches, organizing a tournament participated in by the school’s girls’ and boys’ tennis teams. The girls were randomly paired up with the boys, which was a fun challenge as the players partnered with someone they probably had not played with before. “The girls got a chance to meet the guys and vice versa, and hopefully the mixer will have been a catalyst for friendships and hitting partners,” Rosenheim said.
This year the team’s captains, seniors doubles player Amy Yee and Ness, have played important roles from leading practices to motivating the team. “Amy is strong, diligent, smart, a good listener and a proactive leader,” Rosenheim said. “Sally is always positive, a great model to her fellow teammates and leads by both action and words.”
Next year, the team is losing many strong players such as seniors singles players Amanda Lum and Sally Ness and doubles players Amy Lee and Dominique Dillard. More pressure will be on the remaining veterans to work hard and to lead the incoming JV players to victory. “I'll practice a lot during off-season, keep myself motivated, and prepare for the next season so I will be ready,” junior singles player Nina Liu said.
On the other hand, many of the returning players on varsity have the potential to shine next season. Among them is Etin who remains undefeated as a singles player. She looks forward to continuing this streak next year. “I will practice harder and not slack off,” Etin said. Along with the enthusiasm that results from team bonding and winning challenging matches against other skillful leagues, the intense runs along the beach to build stamina and the addition of more weekend practices have paid off. Next year the team will carry on the passion as the team leaders of this season pass on the baton.
Most Valuable Player:
As this victorious season comes to an end and many players have shone, the one player has stood out the most is senior singles player and captain Sally Ness. Ness has been one of the most treasured players since her freshman year and “a great leader,” coach Jimmy Rosenheim said with a proud look.
Throughout the season, Ness has won many matches, including NorCals in which she was the only player to win both her singles match and her doubles match. Leading the team to its triumphant success, Ness is truly a model player. |
