On May 22, Deerfield’s girls varsity tennis team won the New England Preparatory School Athletic Council (NEPSAC) Championship match against Andover at their Rockwell Tennis Courts. It was the first time in the program’s history that Deerfield girls varsity tennis claimed a Class A Championship.
Isha Rao ’22 and Hunter Pulliam ’22 won their doubles match 8-2. Next up were Natalia Sanders ’24 and Olivia Waterfall ’23, who secured yet another victory for Big Green ending 8-1.
However, Andover won a close match against Daphne Gavros ’22 and Avery Brooker ’24 with a finishing score of 5-8.
The tide finally turned once again in Deerfield’s favor when Rao, Pulliam, and Waterfall all secured wins in singles matches for Deerfield.
Earlier in the season, Deerfield had lost to Andover, distinguished as NEPSAC’s first seed, with a score of 4-5. So, as they made their way to the van in the morning, the girls knew it was very possible that they would not emerge victorious.
Despite the team’s prior loss, Head Coach Mr. Christian Austin was not surprised when the team won. He commented on the team’s work ethic and resolve, saying, “Both our final two opponents in the New England tournament had beaten us narrowly just a month prior. By the numbers, they could have very realistically done so again. Our team was willing to fight and work through 90-degree heat for hours until the job was done.”
Although the girls certainly knew when to buckle down when necessary, Mr. Austin described their team dynamic, first and foremost, as fun. He stated,“ The girls arrived each day ready to focus and work but also laugh. Most importantly, the players cared about one another and the team.”
Olivia Waterfall ’23 concurred, saying, “This year I would say we were as close as we could be. Our team was always laughing and texting in our group chats, and I always felt like we were really united as a whole. Even though tennis can be an individual sport at times, like when playing singles, we really made it feel like a team by always supporting one another on and off the courts.”
In terms of training this year, Waterfall said the main difference was the collective mindset of, in Mr. Austin’s words, “want[ing] it more.”
But the team didn’t just hope for success to come sauntering by; they grew with each match, mentally and emotionally. Waterfall stated, “I think the best thing about competing is that you always gain something, whether it’s a win or a lesson. If you lose you learn something and that helps you compete better.”
This season, she struggled to overcome “the mental game that comes with playing tennis and realizing that getting mad doesn’t help you win.”She worked to control her emotions on the court, which proved fruitful when her deliberate and strategic shots contributed a point toward the historic victory.
The girls varsity tennis team hopes to continue their success into the 2022-2023 school year with Waterfall as their captain.