Girls’ Tennis Struggles Versus Rival Andover

This past Saturday, the girls’ tennis team hosted Andover in their first matchup with the rival squad. The girls’ team, composed of players across all grade levels, put up a strong fight against Andover’s squad, and left all that they had on the court. However, their efforts were just not enough, and Exeter was defeated 0-9 by Big Blue.

Despite the loss, the girls performed exceptionally, showcasing their skills in a number of strong plays and volleys. The Andover girls simply proved to be too much for Exeter, and thus the girls team suffered a loss.

Lower Connie Cai was pleased with the way her teammates performed as well as the quality of the matches. “I think we all played really well. A lot of games were close or went to a tiebreaker.”

“Our team is really close, so practice and bus rides are always fun and our coach always manages to keep us pumped for the games. Our coach, Chad, gives the best pep talks.”

In particular, senior Amanda Hu had a great match, and performed admirably for Big Red. “Amanda Hu did an amazing job—she played an extremely long match and lost the tiebreaker after coming back to win the second set,” Cai said.

The girls suffered a tough loss at Andover’s hands last year as well, with a 0-9 defeat against Andover’s squad last April. “Andover is a really aggressive team, and I think we were a little psyched out from losing badly last year,” Cai said.

However, the team has had a great season up until now, and they seek to sustain that momentum for the remainder of the term.

“I think we’re going to work a lot on our mental game and working on sticking with games even when we’re losing,” Cai said. “I know that we need to work on being more aggressive with our shots. I think our team can get past this, and we’re all just trying to support each other in and out of tennis.”

With a high number of canceled matches, though, the girls are not getting as much practice in game situations as they would regularly get.

“So far, half of our games have been canceled, and our record stands at 1-2,” Cai said. “We swept Holderness on Wednesday though, so that was exciting.”

The girls have managed to create strong chemistry between the players and are a tight-knit group both on and off the court.

“Our team is really close, so practice and bus rides are always fun and our coach always manages to keep us pumped for the games. Our coach, Chad, gives the best pep talks,” Cai said.

The girls hope to have a strong end to their season, although it will not be an easy task. “The second half of our season is extremely challenging as we will also face Milton, Choate and Groton in the coming week,” coach Jean Farnum said. “When teams are fairly evenly matched the victory usually goes to the team that has the least amount of unforced errors. This is an area in which we need improvement. Hopefully when we get good weather and can be outside more our consistency will improve.”

Big Red has Choate next on the schedule in a home match this Saturday at 4:30. They look to improve to .500 on the season with a win against the Wild Boars.

QUOTES:

Jean Farnum:

Andover has is one of the top two teams in New England Class A and has young talented tennis players. By far it was the toughest competition we have faced this season. The second half of our season is extremely challenging as we will also face Milton, Choate and Groton in the coming week. When teams are fairly evenly matched the victory usually goes to the team that has the least amount of unforced errors. This is an area in which we need improvement.  Hopefully when we get good weather and can be outside more our consistency will improve.

Connie Cai ‘17:

1. How did the match go?

Well we lost 0-9, but I think we all played really well. A lot of games were close/went to tiebreaker. Andover's a really sassy/aggressive team, and I think we were a little psyched out from losing badly last year.

2. How has the season been going so far?

So far, half of our games have been canceled, and our record stands at 1-2. We swept Holderness on Wednesday though, so that was exciting. Our team (Varsity B) is really close, so practice and bus rides are always fun and our coach always manages to keep us pumped for the games. Our coach, Chad, gives the best pep talks.

3. How does the team plan to handle the loss?

I think we're going to work a lot on our mental game, and working on sticking with games even when we're losing. I know that we need to work on being more aggressive with our shots. I think our team can get past this, and we're all just trying to support each other in and out of tennis.

4. Were there any players in particular who had a good match?

Amanda Hu did an amazing job-- she played an extremely long match, and lost the tiebreaker, after coming back to win the second set.

5. What are your hopes for the rest of the season?

Win all the rest of our matches, hopefully.