By: Emily Wu, Staff Writer
With an undefeated record of 14-0, the Mills girls’ tennis team wrapped up their season at the top of the Ocean Division. Getting their final score wasn’t easy, as it tested their performance, determination, and preparation.
Team captain, Natalie Cheng (11) reflected on the team’s past years. “I feel like we’ve definitely improved a lot because in the past seasons, we definitely were not as good, and it was definitely a struggle in our division.” However, this season was a turning point and the team showed remarkable progress. Cheng added, “But it’s really cool to see how much the team has grown since [the beginning of the season] thanks to the help from our coaches.”
Bringing in 11 freshmen onto the team was a challenge, but the results were better than expected. Maya Dolmage-Heath (9) shared, “It was very exciting, I didn’t know it would go that well and I think it’s a very great accomplishment to be able to end up with such a good score.”
Sophia Lee (9) also expressed,“…our team was really good, but I didn’t think that our scores would end up like how they are.” Her comment reflects her achievements and joy shared by the freshmen, who exceeded their own expectations.
As a result of their hard work, the team was able to qualify for PALs individual and doubles. The other team captain, Kylie Huynh (11) announced that the team’s dedication to improve showed their ability to succeed. “I’m really proud of them. I think our team was overall really successful, and everybody’s extremely supportive of each other and being able to qualify for PALs individuals just showcases that our team is getting stronger and stronger.”
Looking ahead into next season, Huynh is positive about the team’s potential. “I do think next year will be better, especially because this year we were PAL champions for Ocean Division and so we’re moving up next year. It will definitely be a challenge, because we’re going up against harder schools.” It’s an exciting opportunity to prove their strength and build on their success.
Adding onto this, Cheng said “…I feel like, as more time passes, we’ll just grow even more, and we’ll just improve more, and especially since we’re moving up to the upper division next year, it’s gonna need a lot more commitment.” She highlighted that with the increased level of competition, the team will need to push themselves harder, but she is confident their strong work ethic and teamwork will pay off.
Huynh emphasized how communication and unity sets a strong foundation for future seasons to both returning and new members. She noted, “I think we had a really good season this year, everybody put in a lot of effort into the games, everybody was really consistent with staying committed to the team, and the teamwork has been great this year.”
