Westford Academy Girls’ Tennis (WAGT) started the season off strong on Friday, March 27, with a 5-0 victory against Chelmsford High School. This resounding win starts off their season record 1-0 and marks the girls’ first match up after having achieved the title of DCL champions last season.
From the very first serve, WA established control over the courts. The team played with focus and intensity, hitting crisp ground shots and serves. Despite Chelmsford’s offense, Westford was able to return nearly every shot that came their way. The players adapted their strategies seamlessly, leading to multiple 6-0 finishes.
“My partner and I focused more on our net play. We focused on being more offensive than defensive in this match,” senior captain Haasini Sriramin said. “That really stood out to me because it’s something that we’ve been practicing a lot, so I’m really glad we were able to put that into action.”
During the first singles match, junior Melanie Chang showcased her pivoting abilities, which allowed her to sway her shots while staying on her feet, becoming a large factor in her win for the set. According to Chang, despite the strong results of her singles match, she still hopes to improve her skills for the future.
“I think overall my performance was mediocre, which is partially due to the weather and environmental switch from indoor to outdoor,” Chang said. “Something I could work on is my return serve. It wasn’t exactly a hindrance today, but I could’ve taken more advantage of weaker balls.”
In the second singles match, freshman Pradnya Kekan continued Westford’s winning momentum through a composed and controlled performance. Despite being a freshman, Kekan maintained pressure on her opponent throughout her match.
Continuing Westford’s winning streak, sophomore Deeksha Makkena played in the third singles match of the game. Using her persistent volleys and direct shots, Makkena was able to secure victories in both matches with extremely minor losses, leading her to win her whole set.
“I think I did okay overall. I had some good moments, but also some parts where I could’ve been more consistent,” Makkena said. “I tried to hit a strong shot first and then go up to the net and I’m proud I came up and volleyed a lot.”
Simultaneously, sophomore Emma Park and junior Sohana Arani played the first doubles match. This match went slightly longer than others due to the repeated rallies from either side of the net. However, using their assertiveness at the net, Park and Arani were able to skillfully secure a victory. According to Park, she wants to improve on her confidence moving forward.
“I thought I did pretty well, especially for the first match […] I am proud of being aggressive at the net and trying to get every ball that I could,” Park said. “[However], I tend to second guess myself, which can make me anxious. I want to learn to trust myself more, not just for me, but for the team so we can have another great season.”
Similarly, in the second doubles match, played by Sriraman and senior Sneha Bhanushali, WA controlled the pace throughout the match with their offense, using the net as an advantage to put pressure on the opposing team. The match finished off strongly with Sriraman securing the winning game point from the baseline.
According to many members of the team, despite their wins, they need to work on overall consistency during matches and practices, especially leading into tournaments.
“In practice, we need to make sure that we drill [for consistency] as effectively as we can, just to get the ball in the court more often,” Sriraman said. “When it gets to challenges and the tournament, a lot of the teams are very advanced and they will be able to hit everything that we give them. So, it’s basically a battle of who is more consistent.”
Beyond technical skills, one thing that the team continues to take from last year’s season is the supportiveness of teammates. According to Sriraman, players who finish earlier than others stay behind and help cheer on anyone who may still be playing.
Both Park and Makkena shared similar sentiments of how the team has supported them during practices and the game.
“My team has helped me feel confident on the court,” Park said. “I’m truly grateful for them, and I can’t wait to play another great season.”
WAGT will have their next game on Thursday, April 2, at 4 p.m. at Bishop Feehan High School.
