Another successful year for the girls tennis team has come to fruition, as our Raptors have officially won the AA State championship for the second time in a row! The girls beat Landrum Highschool 6-0 in straight sets to be crowned champions once again. This journey to the championship, contrasting from their last championship match, was not a cake walk for our Raptors tennis team. Our Lady Raptors remained very dominant in their region, with a regular season record of four straight wins and zero losses. They finished with an overall positive regular season record of 18 dominant wins along with 7 losses. The Raptors had an astounding post season performance and put all opponents to rest when it was time for playoffs, not dropping a single set in the four matches that they played. The team showed off their exemplary chemistry with one another and the talent that this team held will not go unnoticed.
Regular season overview- Our girls tennis team started off the season strong, winning against Waccamaw 6-0 in straight sets. The following week they lost a tragic match to Wando 5-1, a simple mishap for the Raptors. They bounced back, however, in the next match against Summerville highschool in a dominant 4-1 win. They continued their doubleheader dominance later that day in a vicious win against Fort Dorchester. They played James Island two days later, losing 3-2. They unfortunately played Wando once again, losing the same way in a 5-1 defeat. The following match was against a competitive Oceanside Collegiate Academy, in which the raptors lost by a slim margin of one set in a 4-3 loss. The raptors reasserted their dominance the following week with a win in straight sets, 6-0 to Berkeley High School. The Raptors played Wando the following match for the third time and turned the tables, winning 6-1. Two days later they defeated Bishop England in straight sets, a dominant 6-0 dub. They then lost in heartbreaking fashion a week later in heartbreaking fashion to Oceanside Collegiate Academy in a 4-3 set defeat. This lit a fire in our raptors as the following week they destroyed divisional rivals Philip Simmons 6-0 in straight sets, asserting dominance over the division. However, this fire did not last long as they lost the next day to Christ Church Episcopal in a narrow one set loss. Final score 4-3. Once again the Raptors killed Philip Simmons in straight sets, giving them a shocking score of 12 sets to zero sets on aggregate! Truly phenomenal for our Raptors! Sadly, the next week they lost to Christ Church Episcopal once again 4-2. They continued their Bishop England Invitational Tournament in a loss to Hilton Head Island 5-1. However, the raptors ended the Bishop England Invitational on a good note, beating River Bluff High School 4-2. They then beat Woodland High School at Woodland 6-0 in straight sets. We then took a trip to Summerville High School, winning 5-1. The next week they took on Porter Gaud, winning 6-3 continuing a 4 game win streak. Once again, they beat Philip Simmons in straight sets again! Wow! We played away at Hanahan the following week, winning in straight sets once again, and beating Hanahan 6-0. Finally, in the last match of the regular season, they smacked Woodland in straight sets 6-0. This concluded an amazing 7 match win streak in the regular season! Wow wow wow! Kudos to our outstanding squad of tennis stars!
The Playoffs…
The raptors concluded a dominant playoff performance. They did not drop a single set in the whole postseason, with straight sets against Johnsonville High School, Hannah Pamplico High School, Philip Simmons High School, and finally a dub in the state championship against Landrum High School. This was the second straight state championship for the raptors, and the raptors had many individual standouts, sophomore Maggie Schwartz was given all state honors, along with sophomore Kamya Pham, who also achieved this award.
The Team…
Head coach Mark Borst and assistant coach Michael Grass led this dominant team through the regular season and post season, coaching the following players in positional order…
1- Maggie Schwartz (10)
2- Sophia Easterbrook (12)
3- Kamya Pham (10)
4- Archer Fanning (9)
5- Emma Miars (11)
6 (Doubles)- Eliza Dargan (10)
7 (Doubles)- Finley Frenkel (10)
8-10- Leah Bagg (12), Victoria Carabus (11), & Addie Deford (11)
Led by captain Sophia Easterbrook, the girls had an entertaining season with great results and an even better state title. Let’s ask these players exactly what they loved most about this season:
“I enjoyed the team dynamic and the competitive spirit of every player on the team, Everyone played an important part in this second straight state championship, and everyone played their hearts out over the course of the season.”- Sophia Easterbrook (12)
“The team really came together at the end of the season and pulled out a great string of a few games to secure our state title and a great record during the regular season”- Maggie Schwartz (10).
“I am honored to be receiving the All State award this season, I feel as if this award could be given to any girl on our squad this season”- Kamya Pham (11)
“Our team has been so committed to each other and our goals, it seemed it paid off”- Addie Deford (11).
This team will also be in great hands next year as the ending of this season only warrants two departures: Seniors Sophia Easterbrook and Leah Bagg. Although these two stars will be missed on the tennis team, there is plenty to look forward to in the future as the raptors will still contain plenty of talent, as with only two departures, and incoming freshmen for next year, the sky is the limit for our raptors tennis stars. Adding onto the future success of our Raptors, sophomore Maggie Schwartz and Sophomore Kamya Pham both earned all state honors for their hard work and dedication to the team. So, with this team on our hands, there is quite a possibility that the Raptors will run it back for a third straight.
