Girl's Tennis (2022)
Despite Weather Delays, Panthers Have Strong Showing in TCAL Championships
November 3, 2022--In a league tournament that consisted of a rain delay and change of venues, the Panthers Girls Tennis Team had strong performances in their respective matches in an effort to capture a TCAL crown. The TCAL Championships was originally scheduled to take place in Vallejo, but poor and wet weather called for a change of scenery as the tournament shifted to El Cerrito High School. Nonetheless, the Panthers handled adversity as best as they could as the doubles team Freshman, Vera Ertel, and Junior, Helen Pollak, were victorious in their doubles match to advance in the TC
AL tournament, but ultimately would fall short of their goal of capturing a TCAL Championship. Junior Ella Franzese also performed well as she won her first singles match to advance the final round where she ultimately was defeated. However, despite the loss, Franzese received a First Team All-TCAL honors for having a great season in league.
The Panthers will now have a few days off as they will wait to hear where they will be competing in NCS this upcoming week. Good luck Panthers!
Tennis Concludes Regular Season, Looks Forward to TCAL Championship
October 28, 2022--In their last regular season match on Thursday afternoon, the Varsity Girls Tennis Team came
up short to their cross-town rival, the Albany High Cougars, by the score of 5-2. Despite the loss, the Panthers concluded their regular season with an impressive 10-4 league record. The Panthers were led by Junior Ella Franzese who defeated her opponent in straight sets, and were led by the fantastic Senior duo of Samantha Tayag and Lillian Hess who were also victorious in their respective match as well.
The Panthers will now turn their attention to the TCAL League Championships on Wednesday, November 3rd, in hopes of claiming a league title. Good luck Panthers!
Tennis Celebrates Senior Day with Win Over Jaguars
October 27, 2022--On a Tuesday afternoon in Albany, the Panthers tennis team celebrated Senior Day as they honored three Senior Players--Lillian Hess, Daphne Siemons, and Samantha Tayag—for their dedication and commitment to the Girl’s Tennis Program in their time here at Saint Mary’s.
Following the pregame celebration, the Panthers Tennis Team were impressive in their matches against the Jesse Bethel High Jaguars as they would go on to defeat the Jaguars by the score of 5-2. This victory avenged
a loss early in the season to those very same Jaguars. The story of the day was Ella Franzese as she would demonstrate strong will and resiliency in overcoming an early deficit in her respective match to win in three straight sets.
The Panthers now improve their league record to 10-3, and will wrap up their regular season on Thursday, October 27th, against their cross-town rival, the Albany High Cougars.
Panthers Avenge Early Loss to El Cerrito, Win 5-2
October 18, 2022--On a Tuesday afternoon at El Cerrito High School, the Panthers Tennis Team avenged an early season loss to the El Cerrito High Gauchos by defeating them in a strong showing by the score of 5-2. The Panthers got major contributions from everyone in their lineup, especially from Junior standout, Ella Franzese. With the victory, the Panthers improve to 8-3 in TCAL play.
The Panthers will have a quick turnaround as they will take on the Piedmont High Highlanders in a non-league match tomorrow afternoon. The match is scheduled for 3:30pm at Piedmont High School.
Panthers Start Week with Victory Over SPSV
October 11, 2022--After coming up short in their previous TCAL match at Jesse Bethel last week, the Panthers Tennis Team regrouped and started this week out on the right. The Panthers defeated the St. Patrick-St. Vincent Bruins in TCAL play in very convincing fashion. The Panthers would sweep all their matches in a 7-0 victory.
With the victory, the Panthers improve to 5-3 in TCAL play and will look forward to their upcoming match against long-time rival, the Salesian Pride, scheduled for this Thursday at 3:30PM at Salesian High School.
Panthers Go Down to Jaguars 5-2.
October 5, 2022--On a Wednesday afternoon in Vallejo, California, the Panthers found themselves shorthanded as they were defeated by the Jesse Bethel High Jaguars by the score of 5-2. The Panthers were missing some key players that would have been pivotal to the match that the team could have benefitted from. However, Head Coach Mike Sommers said that despite the scenario the team found themselves in, he was proud of how the rest of his players competed in their respective matches.
The Panthers will look to bounce back next week as they will travel back to Vallejo to take on the St. Patrick-St. Vincent Bruins. The match is scheduled for Tuesday, October 11th, at 3:30PM.
Panthers Top Dons, Win 7-0
September 29, 2022--On a Thursday afternoon at the Albany Courts, th
e Varsity Girls Tennis Team won their second league match of the week as they defeated the De Anza High Dons by the score of 7-0. Once again, the Panthers had major contributions from everyone in the lineup, especially from Juniors Amaya sol Beils, Eva Roth, and Claire Abboud who had full control in their respective matches. With the victory, the Panthers are now 4-1 in league play.
The Panthers will have a quick turnaround as they take on cross-town rival, the Albany High Cougars, in yet another TCAL affair this Friday, September 30th.
Panthers Defeat Oilers in Convincing Fashion
September 27, 2022--On a Tuesday afternoon in Richmond, California, the Panthers Tennis Team defeated the Richmond High Oilers in convincing fashion by the score of 7-0. It was a full team effort by the Panthers squad, headlined by the fantastic play of their younger players—Freshmen Vera Ertel, Makena Lai, and Kelly Carter. This freshmen trio defeated their respective opponents in their singles matches in straight sets.
The match of the day though, according to Head Coach Mike Sommers, belonged to Junior Helen Pollak as she won her match in three close sets.
The Panthers now move to 3-1 in TCAL play and will take on the De Anza High Dons this Thursday, September 29th, at the Albany Courts. The match will start at 3:30PM.
Panthers Return to Winning Ways, Defeat Hercules
September 15, 2022--In an early pivotal match to start their season, the Panthers returned to winning ways as they defeated the Hercules Titans by the score of 7-0, returning to the win column in TCAL play. It was a great team effort by the Panthers, but Head Coach Mike Sommers commented on the fine play of Freshman Kaley Carter as she won her singles match debut by the scores of 6-4, 6-2. Juniors Kiki Burlingham and Mia Christbaum were also sensational in their doubles match as they won by the scores of 6-0, 6-0. Lastly, Coach Sommers also admired the resiliency of Junior Hellen Pollak as she trailed in the 3rd set of her respective match by the score of 4-0 but came roaring back to win the next 6 games to complete the comeback, winning her match by the score of 6-4.
The Panthers now sit in TCAL play with a 2-1 record, and will continue league play as they travel to Vallejo to take on the Jesse Bethel High Jaguars at 3:30PM.
Panthers Lose League Match to El Cerrito
September 14, 2022—In the Panthers second TCAL match of the season, they came up short to league rival, the El Cerrito High Gauchos, by the score of 5-2, putting their TCAL record at 1-1. Despite the outcome of the match, the Panthers had strong performances in the doubles matches. The Panther duos of Senior Samantha Tayag and Junior Claire Abboud, and Seniors Daphne Siemons and Lillian Hess, were stellar in their respective matches. The duo of Tayag and Abboud defeated their opponents by the score of 6-1, 6-2, and the duo of Siemons and Hess defeated their opponents by the score of 6-1, 6-1.
The Panthers look to get back to winning ways in TCAL play as they take on the Hercules Titans this Thursday, September 15th, at Hercules High School.
Panthers Come Up Short in Match vs. Berkeley
September 13, 2022--Following their dominant performance in their season opener over TCAL league rival, Salesian High School, where they defeated the Pride by the score of 7-0, the Panthers lost in Tuesday’s match against the Berkeley High School Yellowjackets at the Hearst Tennis Courts in Berkeley by the score of 6-1. However, despite having a tough day on the court against a strong opponent, the silver lining of the day came from Junior Ella Franzese. Franzese provided the only point for the Panthers out of the 7 matches as she won her singles match by the score of 6-4, 6-1.
Even though the Panthers were defeated by the score of 6-1, Head Coach Mike Sommers said that the score was not an accurate representation of how competitive the matches were, especially in the other singles and doubles matches that took place. Overall, Coach Sommers believes that this defeat against a better team will be a great lesson for the players to learn from as they make their way throughout their season.
Fortunately, the Panthers will have a quick turnaround, and an opportunity for redemption, as they will return to league play tomorrow afternoon as they make the short trip to El Cerrito High School as they take on the Gauchos at 3:30PM.
Panthers Superb in Season Opener
September 8, 2022--In their first match of the year, the Varsity Girl’s Tennis Team were nothing short of sensational. The Lady Panthers won their first match of the season, defeating TCAL rival, the Salesian Pride, by a score of 7-0. The Lady Panthers were led by the number one singles player, Junior Ella Franzese, who defeated her opponent 6-0, 6-0 in short time, picking up right where she left of after a sensational 2021-2022 season last year.
The closest match was at the number one doubles, where Juniors Eva Roth and Amaya Sol Beils needed a third set ten-point tiebreaker to win their match, showing resiliency and toughness in the victory. The Lady Panthers are looking forward to playing three matches next week in three straight days as they will be taking on non-league opponent, the Berkeley High Yellow Jackets, followed by TCAL foes the El Cerrito Gauchos and the Hercules Titans.