The girls’ varsity tennis had a busy and decisive week, playing in three key matches that secured their second-place spot in the Peninsula Athletic League (PAL) Bay Division standings.
“Overall, we expect to be [here] after playing each team,” head coach Doug Stone said. “The win that really was the difference was our win against [Menlo-Atherton]. Getting that win early in the year was a really good indicator of where we might be in the league.”
On Tuesday, Oct. 8, the Panthers faced off against San Mateo High School, winning 6-1 in an overwhelming victory. All four singles players contributed to the win, grasping an easy 6-0 or 6-1 win. However, Burlingame’s No. 1 doubles pair, seniors Lexi Podkaminer and Hailey Miller, fought hard in a tight match eventually falling 7-5, 7-6 in a tiebreaker.
“I feel like we could’ve played better. It was a really tough match for us. I think we brought it back in the second set, and we just kind of let it go in the tiebreak,” Podkaminer said.
Although Miller and Podkaminer couldn’t carry out a clean sweep, doubles partners senior Ella Wang and junior Lyra Sheng and freshmen Ella Vuong and Greta Martin delivered easy wins.
Sheng and Wang’s chemistry fueled their success, including a memorable shot that shifted the momentum of the match.
“Ella was up at the net, and after a couple rally shots, Ella hit this really tricky shot that went straight into the corner that was super close to her, and they wouldn’t touch it. So it was beautiful,” Sheng said.
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Sophomore Caroline Rafferty hits a deep forehand against San Mateo High School.
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Freshman and No. 3 doubles player Ella Vuong gets ready to serve against San Mateo High School on Tuesday Oct. 8.
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Senior Hailey Miller slams a volley at the net.
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Junior Evelyn Du finishes a backhand.
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Junior Samantha Tom beats No. 2 singles San Mateo High School’s Annika Gurnani 6-0, 6-1 on Tuesday, Oct. 8.
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The following day on Wednesday, Oct. 9, the team played Aragon High School in a crucial match, with both schools tied for second place in league standings. Burlingame emerged victorious, claiming sole possession of second place in the PAL Bay Division, knocking the Dons into third place.
“The team played well, they were ready, we were focused, they fought hard,” Stone said. “[Sophomore] Shea [Mulready] won at number one, and played probably some of her best tennis of the year.”
All four singles players won their matches, with No. 3 singles Evelyn Du clinching her win in a super tie break 10-7, after a challenging 7-5, 1-6 battle.
The doubles teams faced tougher competition, with both No. 1 and No. 2 doubles falling short. However, No. 3 doubles Vuong and Martin secured a 6-2, 6-1 win, further solidifying the team’s lead.
On Thursday, Oct. 10, Burlingame faced off against first-place Carlmont High School, losing 6-1. The only victory came from junior Samantha Tom, who rallied in a three-set match to win 3-6, 6-4, 10-8.
“She won that match because she made fewer errors in the tie break and forced her opponent to hit some unforced errors. She got the extra ball over the net. It was a great win for Sam,” Stone said. “I told her that ‘this is a match you’re going to remember for a long time.’”
Vuong and Martin, the freshman No. 3 doubles pair, also nearly claimed victory, falling just short in a tiebreaker.
“It’s just so cool to see two freshmen come out and play at the level that they’re playing at,” Stone said. “They’re going to be very strong on this team for the next few years. I’m just delighted to have them and it’s just great to see them executing at the level that they are.”
Despite the loss, the Panthers still came away with two wins on the week and secured possession of second place with the PAL playoffs just weeks away.
