By: Jayne Wilson
The girls varsity tennis team has continued to improve throughout the season, currently holding a strong 8-4 record heading into the NEPSAC tournament.
According to Head Coach Ronald Garcia, the team has made major progress since the start of the season, especially with younger players stepping into bigger roles. Seventh-graders Katherine Pfadenhauer and Sarah Litzendorf have grown as players. “They have improved a lot over the last two months,” Coach Garcia said. Other players have also adjusted well to playing in higher positions in the lineup than in previous seasons.
As the season wound down, the team focused on earning a top seed heading into the Class B tournament, which they did, allowing KO to host matches at home which gave them an advantage in the postseason. The team’s overall goal was to compete for the Class B championship, and Coach Garcia believes they are capable of competing with any team.
The Wyverns took home a huge win on Saturday, May 2, against Westminster. Junior Captain Noor Sayej, junior Marin Backer and Pfadenhauer led the team to the 5-4 win.
Leadership has also played a major role in the team’s success this season. Sayej has led by example as the team’s top player and currently holds the best singles record on the team at 8-1. Garcia also highlighted junior Lila Klinzmann and Backer as emerging leaders who have stepped up throughout the year. Senior Captain Alex Doering, despite missing time after surgery, has remained involved with the team while recovering.
Sophomore Greer Espeso also mentioned that younger players on the team have played against tough teams like Westminster School and Choate Rosemary Hall. “The younger players have really stepped up and gained valuable experience against tough competition,” Espeso said.
In doubles competition, the pairs of Sayej and Backer, as well as Espeso and Klinzmann, have been the team’s most successful combinations statistically, helping contribute to the team’s strong overall record heading into the postseason.
As the girls varsity tennis team headed into the NEPSAC finals, they knew they had built strong momentum through hard work and steady improvement all season long. From experienced leaders to younger players stepping into bigger roles, the team has grown more confident and consistent with every match. Their chemistry, determination, and ability to compete under pressure allowed them to pull off wins in the quarter and semifinals against Dana Hall and Suffield Academy on Saturday, May 16 at the no.3 seed.
