Girls tennis swings for CCS

September 11, 2019 — by Jayne Zhou

Girls hope to succeed with healthier team. 

Head coach: Florin Marica

2018-2019 season record: 9-5

2018-2019 season recap: The team had a decent season, but they had room to improve. Last year, the team made CCS, but lost in the quarterfinals round to Cupertino. They also went to SCVALS, but didn’t make it very far. 

Key Additions: None

Key Matchups: Los Gatos, Monta Vista
Star players: Monica Stratakos, Juhi Patel, Alyssa Pinai, Varsha Horantur

Key Losses (graduated athletes): Rini Vasan

League: De Anza

Four top players on the team were out from injuries according to Coach Florin Marica: then juniors Monica Stratakos, Varsha Horantur, Annissa Mu, and then senior Rini Vasan. Despite this setback, the varsity girls’ tennis team defied all odds by ending second place in the Santa Clara Valley Athletics League (SCVAL) last year. 

Considering the number of key players out, he said the team did OK last year.

In the end, the team lost in the CCS quarterfinals of to the Cupertino High School team, possibly due to being so early into the tournament. 

This year, the team hopes to do better, especially since they have their injured players back on the court, Marica said. 

However, while gaining a few players back, they also lost  key player Vasan, who was a 2019 alumni and former singles one player.

“After losing a key player we’ve all been practicing really hard to make up for it since we are all moved up a spot from last year,” said senior Sanya Kwatra, who plays doubles. 

The team also lacks any new freshman additions, but Marica doesn’t see that as a hindrance on the team’s success. 

“[The new players] are all brought up from JV, so I know them already,” Marica said. “They were the top players on the JV team, so they will be OK.”

Since Marica asked them several times to help during varsity matches last year, he expects them to blend and fit in with the team pretty well. 

“I’m really excited because I think the girls match really well this year and the new additions are getting to know each other well already and we’re excited for the season,” Kwatra said.

1 view this week