Girls’ tennis, 7-2, looking to continue their streak of dominance, faces the 3-5 University Wildcats today, coming off of a 7-0 loss to Palisades High on Monday. 

Despite the loss, the team had “some very close matches”, said coach Andrew Horen. 

“Sophomores Penelope Smith and Jessica Yamashita came really close to defeating a very strong Pali doubles team, but unfortunately lost in a tiebreaker,” he said.

According to senior Joanna Huang, a co-captain alongside junior Kali Lepeyre, the team has been practicing direct volleys at training. 

“I find that most players miss the easiest of volleys, their ego becomes too big to actually focus on the shot.”

Regardless of the fact that this is the same University High team that the Gondoliers defeated 7-0 on September 19, it goes without saying that they are a very gritty team.

“They don’t get frustrated so easily, and are always trying their best even when the score is against them,” said Huang.

Both Horen and Huang believe that consistency is the key to unlock any team that they compete against, including University High this afternoon.

“We’re working with our singles players staying consistent from the baseline, but also being able to come forward and finish the point at the net,” Horen said.

The “four-ball mantra” greatly emphasizes this consistency, as according to Huang, “If you’re able to keep the ball in play, even 3-4 times, the chances of the other team making a mistake increase.”

Horen further summarized the four-ball mantra in four simple steps:

1. Ensure that the first four balls remain in play. 
2. Minimize unforced errors.
3. “After the first four balls, go crazy. Go for a winner”
4. Do it all over again.

“Once our girls get to the point and find a rhythm, we usually do pretty well”, he said.