Laurel Sweeps SJA
The varsity and junior varsity tennis teams faced Laurel School in an away match at the Laurel-Butler Campus courts on September 16. The varsity team played well but dropped a 5-0 match to the Gators. The junior varsity team fell by a score of 4-1. This match improved Laurel’s varsity team to a 9-2 record on the season.
#1 singles player junior Hannah Schuette fell 6-0, 6-0 against an outstanding opponent, Ellen Hata. However, Schuette rose to her role of captain by cheering on Cassie Van Etten on the next court, shouting out advice throughout the match.
Freshman Cassie Van Etten fell 6-1, 6-0 to Ria Desai of Laurel School at second singles, followed the lead of the Jaguars captain and echoed back encouragement and advice to her teammates.
At third singles, sophomore Angela Weiland fell 6-0, 6-0 loss against Olivia Shao. Although early mistakes set the pace for the match, she had a competitive rally halfway through the second set that proved to be challenging for her opponent.
Weiland said, “Yes, I lost, but I feel good about how I played. And if someone can walk off the court feeling good about what they just did, then that means more than whether we won or lost. Now our goal is to make that feeling match the score.”
Coach Dan Mitoff told the Jaguars that in upcoming practices and games they would take the high energy they had in this match and use it to continue improving their fundamental skills.
