Boys’ tennis team fares better than girls’ in match against Bradshaw Christian

Jacqueline Chao
Sophomore Michaela Chen competes in her singles tennis match, which she lost (4-6, 2-6), to a Bradshaw Christian player.

The tennis team’s big turn-out wasn’t enough to completely dominate Bradshaw Christian High School on April 19.

Both of the boys’ players were victorious. Junior Nico Burns remains undefeated (6-1, 6-0), and senior Emil Erickson destroyed his opponent (6-2, 6-3).

But the girls were not as successful. Both girls’ singles lost their matches. Sophomore Michaela Chen was defeated (4-6, 2-6), and sophomore Chardonnay Needler also lost (0-6, 1-6).

And the girls’ doubles team of sophomores Jacqueline Chao and Allison Zhang fell (2-10).

Erickson called this match was one of his best.

“I was serving really well, and I was pretty consistent in my play,” Erickson said.

He said that his only regret is that he wasn’t able to finish it off faster.

Burns, who is ranked boys’ singles number 1 in the league, said that his only problem was keeping his serves consistent.

“I double-faulted a lot,” Burns said.

Jacqueline Chao
Senior Emil Erickson prepares to return a shot in his singles match.

But his improved fore-hand and ability to keep the ball in-play proved enough to dominate his opponent.

Needler said that one of her greatest problems was motivation.

When the ball headed toward difficult locations, she would let it go instead of putting her full effort into returning it. She said the reason for this was that she wasn’t playing for anyone.

“Since it was singles, not doubles, where I would have (been) playing for someone other than myself, I didn’t really care (if I won),” Needler said.

“With doubles, (there is) more motivation to do well. There’s ongoing team morale.”

She added that her skill level was inferior to that of her opponent.

“Her serves were lethal,” Needler said.

And according to Needler, her horrible footing didn’t help matters much.

Even with all of these setbacks, Needler said that some of her skills, including consistent serves and swings, have greatly improved.

Zhang, who played doubles, also said that her opponent’s skill level was a big factor in her team’s loss.

“(Their) serves were really good,  and they were able to pass the ball to places on the court that we weren’t covering,” Zhang said.

“It was inevitable that we would eventually miss the ball.”

She also said that they were especially rusty at the beginning of the game because the team hadn’t practiced since spring break.

But once they got used to the game, Zhang said that she and Chao did a pretty good job.

The team’s next match is Friday, April 21, against Golden Sierra High School at Golden Sierra at 3:30 p.m.

By Anna Frankel

Print Friendly, PDF & Email