UHS Girls’ Varsity Tennis team faced off against Woodbridge on Sep. 20. The Trojans came out victorious with a final score of 12-6. The most competitive matches were the singles matches, which had both the Warriors and the Trojans going on an intense back-and-forth streak. 

The UHS team utilized an array of skills, such as across-court hits to Woodbridge. However, Woodbridge showed the same level of skill, as the first court of doubles matches used backhands to deflect the ball across the court in this fast-paced game.

Considered one of the best teams in the Pacific Coast League, the UHS tennis team consists of a diverse group of athletes, with each athlete possessing their own unique sets of strengths and weaknesses.  

“My strengths are definitely my serves,” senior Mel Rose said. “I think I have a pretty solid first-serve percentage.”

Also equally as important in the sport of tennis is the mental aspect and the player’s attitude towards the court. 

“Sometimes I get down on myself, and I don’t think that makes me a better player,” Rose said. 

The participating athletes displayed a calm finish as the intense back-and-forth was taking place. Likewise, due to the fast-paced nature of a tennis game, the crowd largely watched in silence as a way to pay respect to the players.

“When I get frustrated on the court I like to go to the back of the court and reset while I play with the strings on my racket or . . . say positive things,” junior team captain Anna Gubin said. 

Many doubles matches were also taking place alongside the singles matches. During the matches, some UHS players made simple mistakes, such as the courts on the double’s side, where court one had serves in which the ball did not go over the net, ultimately leading to a Woodbridge scoring streak. 

Through the teamwork between the UHS players, the team persevered and made a comeback. As the Trojans continued to gain points, Woodbridge was losing points after rounds of matches. Many players attribute this late success to the mental aspect of the game, which many UHS players deem as one of the most important parts of tennis matches. 

“One thing I think is a major battle or struggle for tennis players . . . is their mental health when it comes to the court,” Ava Bocek said. 

The UHS varsity girls’ tennis players explained that after this game, they reflected and learned from their errors. They plan on continuing to improve their strengths from the game and work towards their goal of winning another championship.