Tennis battles Beverly, qualifies for CIF

Olivia LeganStaff WriterThe sun beat down on the Samo tennis courts,  but the Vikings stayed on their toes, defeating Beverly Hills on Oct. 27. This win gives the Vikings a new-found confidence for CIF.“I think we were in a much better position this time than we were last match against Beverly. The girls came to play today. Just to play, no strings attached, no pressure. That is what is going to make them better players,” Coach Wilston Poon said.While they may not have felt pressure, the team was definitely determined to beat Beverly. The matches were intense, with most volleys ending with a Beverly error. Singles players were especially strong this game, with freshman Christine Maddox winning 6-1. Doubles players did not fare as well, with pair composed of senior Annie Volovik and sophomore Natalie Yeliokumson losing 1-6.The match was close — seemingly every one of Samo’s wins was followed by a loss. But in the end, the pain of losing two weeks prior drove the Vikings to victory.Led by Maddox, the girls were able to pull through.“She has a positive attitude and positive results,” Poon said of Maddox. “Christine is all-around a great athlete and a great team player.”“We had a great amount of time to practice and make neccesary improvements. We know how they play, so I have faith in our team,” junior Jackie Stearns said.It was a close game, but the Vikings slowly and surely pulled ahead, winning 10-8 and finally defeating their rival.“Beating Beverly Hills showed us that if we work really hard at practice and focus, we can make good things happen. We beat Beverly Hills today because it was the last match of the season and we had to redeem ourselves from our previous loss to them,” Maddox said.“Our team has really gained momentum from beating Beverly. We’re practicing harder and preparing ourselves for CIF,” said senior Lucy Walsh. With a newfound vigor, the girls have a shot to go far in CIF’s.“We have already made CIF as a team, and we are currently ranked ninth in the polls. I believe we have a very good chance in going far in the tournament,” Poon said.The girls’ confidence is soaring after the win over their rivals.“The win against Beverly Hills has made the girls more confident. They believe more in themselves. The girls have really clicked as a team and that is going to help us,” Poon said.olegan@thesamohi.com