Girls’ Tennis Excels With Improved Season
In a year of improvement, girls’ varsity tennis ended their season with a 4-4 record, which they hope to build on in the future. In an unusual case, the team only had one captain, senior Taylor Jean Jacques. Due to injury, prospective captain and senior Michelle Bosche was unable to compete this season, placing an early challenge on the squad.
The team started off their season strong with three consecutive wins. They dominated their first match in an away game at Governor’s Academy with an impressive 11-4 win. Their next victory came at Middlesex School only a week and a half later. The closest match of the season, senior Audrey DeGuerrera recounted the 8-7 win as a “highlight” and the most “unlikely” win.
“After [upper] Melissa Lu split sets with her opponent, the entire match ultimately came down to a 10-point tiebreaker that Melissa had to win. Luckily she was the last match on the courts, so all of us were able to watch and cheer her on,” DeGuerrera said. This was a classic example of what Jacques believed were their team’s best moments. “Our best moments are watching each other play tough matches. As we finished our matches one by one, we would all gather around the courts of the remaining matches and watch, giving our teammates advice and cheering them on,” she said.
More than a week later, the team secured yet another win, this time on the Academy’s home courts, as they beat Northfield Mount Hermon School 7-2. These triumphs were very encouraging for the girls.
However, during the next four matches, the team’s winning streak ended. Two away matches at Tabor Academy and Choate Rosemary Hall were cancelled due to rain. Then, Andover and Milton Academy beat Exeter 0-9 and 3-12, respectively. Both opponents had the advantage of playing on their home courts. Finally, a 7-1 match win at Winsor School ended the team’s losing streak.
“Tennis is a pretty individual sport so sometimes you feel pressure on yourself to do well for your team but we have a lot of fun which takes away a bit of that pressure. Everyone is really nice and going to practice is not a drag.”
Mid season, the team took their annual four hour trip down to Kent School for the De Villafranca Tournament. 10 schools, including Taft, Hotchkiss, Andover, Greenwich, Kent, Hopkins, Westminster, Loomis Chaffee and Kingswood Oxford, competed in this tournament. Each team brought its top four members to compete in three different categories: number one singles, number two singles and number one doubles. Prep Katie Yang played number two singles and was the only finalist representing Exeter in the consolation singles tournament. While Exeter did not advance to the finals, this tournament as well as other far away games were where many of the team’s traditions and fun memories were made.
“We usually leave for our hotel in Kent early and spend time as a team eating at restaurants and even doing a little shopping if we have time. During the regular season we always stop at a restaurant on our way back from a far away match and eat meals together,” Jacques said. One can expect the team to be jamming out to their team song throughout the long trips—this year it was “Work” by Rihanna.
Off the courts, the team had a great dynamic. “I feel like we all come from different backgrounds in terms of extracurriculars at Exeter, but I think that's what makes it really nice. It's a nice change to be with people who you wouldn't necessarily see throughout your day,” upper Michaela Corvi said. “Tennis is a pretty individual sport so sometimes you feel pressure on yourself to do well for your team but we have a lot of fun which takes away a bit of that pressure. Everyone is really nice and going to practice is not a drag.”
The fun atmosphere that the team holds can largely be credited to Jacques. Upper Elizabeth Yang described Jacques as a role model for the girls. “On the court, she is always focused and determined despite the advanced opponents she plays. Taylor is also multi-faceted outside of tennis being a tri-varsity athlete and a fellow this year. She is also fun to be with—on bus rides to games she keeps us pumped and excited,” Yang said. In addition to their long trip traditions, the team also enjoyed taking advantage of the spring weather for fun activities together. During the traditional “captains’ practice,” the team brought speakers to the courts, dressed up and played relaxed games of tennis.
“This year I chose the theme of prom, so the girls dressed up in athletic dresses as well as actual prom dresses and we had a light practice,” Jacques said. The team also went on routine trips to Stillwells for ice cream throughout the season on warm days after Wednesday practices.
Although the team’s season ended with two home losses against Groton School (1-8) and Andover (0-9), it was still a successful season. Due to the increase of wins in their record compared to the previous years, DeGuererra said, “This season was an exciting one for varsity A girl's tennis.” Next year, the team will be losing their first seed, Jacques, and fifth seed, DeGuererra. However, since preps and twins, Katie Yang (second seed) and Elizabeth Yang (fourth seed) have three more years at Exeter and uppers Michaela Corvi and Melissa Lu have another year until graduation, the team still remains optimistic that they will continue to improve next year.