Tennis tournament
Louisville tennis takes on Clovis!
Chloe McBride '24
Copy Editor
A new tennis tradition has officially begun! The Louisville varsity tennis team recently took a trip to Clovis to play back-to-back matches of competitive tennis, bringing the team to a well-deserved victory.
The team traveled up north to not only improve their tennis games, but to bond with their fellow Louisville sisters on the team.
The tournament format definitely differed from the formatting of an average league match for the girls–they usually play one set at a time, compared to the unfamiliarity of having to play a full match–but the team adjusted incredibly well to the new information and excelled under the added pressure.
The tennis team with their freshly won silver metals
The tournament was two whole days of tennis, with two matches played by everyone on the team each day.
At first, the tennis team did not know what to expect with the tournament, as none of the players had ever gone to a high school level tournament with a team before, including the returning teammates. However, as the weekend progressed, the girls' excitement only grew.
On first arrival, they had a team bonding night where the captains gave gift bags to all the girls on the team and they discussed a game plan for the upcoming matches.
On Friday, the team had to start bright and early at 8:30 a.m. After the conclusion of this match, they played again at 11:30 a.m., right in the midst of the heat. However, the tennis team persevered and pulled out a win on the first day in a neck-and-neck competition.
After a long day of tennis from the day before, the team once again prepared for two matches, this time without a break. Day two’s first match started, once again, at 8:30 a.m. with the next match starting immediately after.
During both of these matches, Louisville singles swept, winning all of their matches. Doubles team Brooke Freyer ’24 and Hannah Langley ’25 were the deciding factors in both matches as they pulled out an incredible win after being down in the first match and winning both sets in the next one.
There were a lot of new members of the team this year and they were happy to be able to create new memories and bond with their new teammates.
“It was a ton of fun getting to play and spend time with the team. Everyone was so motivating and enthusiastic throughout the entire tournament,” Isabella Becker ’26 comments on her experience at Clovis as a first-time teammate.
Experiencing the tournament for the first time made the experience so special. It was a chance for teammates to connect with each other in a new environment.
“It was a really great experience, not only the tennis but the time spent after, too. I feel more connected to the team than ever,” shared third-year player Sarah Mason ’25.
The team came out victorious and they got to share a celebratory lunch together, before taking the long trip back to Louisville.
While the team’s tennis definitely improved and they got to get a taste of a different type of environment than what they’re used to, the girls also got to bond with their Louisville sisters and make memories that will definitely last a lifetime.
Hopefully the Clovis trip will be a staple in the tennis team for years to come so even more Louisville girls can get the chance to experience this irreplaceable trip.