Wrapping up the 2023 season at the Ojai State Tennis Tournament, the women’s tennis team experienced great success this year! In doubles, two teams faced challenging defeats against our friendly rivals from the south, College of the Desert, in the second round and quarterfinals, while our third doubles team lost a tough battle against Ventura’s College’s top players in the third round. Snacking on Ojai’s famous pixie tangerines in between matches, cheering on our fellow teammates, and sporting the beautifully designed tournament merchandise, the WVC tennis girls enjoyed their time both on and off the court.
This hard-fought ending to the season was only possible with a strong foundation. Viking tennis fought through tough competition, with many edge-of-the-seat finishes to teams like College of the Desert (#2 in the South) and City College of San Francisco (CCSF). However, this team knew how to traverse the unknowns, as our Sports Information Director Matt Folsom praised the team’s adaptability. On the St. Patrick’s Day match versus CCSF, “there were unexpected lineup changes that resulted in player shuffling, particularly Tal Volinsky, who was moved into the 1's doubles slot with Allison Bartlett to battle the top-ranked CCSF pair”, recalls Matt. Not only did Volinsky join the no. 1 seeded doubles, but their win clinched the Coast Conference title for the 2022-23 team, an achievement that brought great pride and joy.
However, the true pride and joy of the team was their camaraderie. On and off the court, friendships were developed, memories were made, and coining catchphrases and nicknames was more than a common occurrence, according to Sophomore Tal Volinsky. Sharing dinners together and blasting tunes during van rides, the team made so many memories to cherish. Freshman Lavanika Sharma recalls the dinner after defeating Chabot, “It was so fun being able to just sit with my team and even hit the griddy with my coach!”
When asked about her favorite moment from the season, Coast Conference Coach of the Year, Lauren Hickey had trouble picking just one memory but explained that she “really appreciated the team camaraderie and how we supported each other.” Freshman Lindsay Lee, states, “During a rough patch in the middle of the season, the team lifted me up and prevented me from losing out on some of my favorite memories.” Needless to say, the women’s tennis team expressed genuine care and encouragement toward one another.
Even with multiple injuries to the hip, wrist, and ankle, the WVC tennis team fought hard, ending with a winning record of 12-0 in Coast Conference and 14-2 overall. Reminiscing on the team’s travels to popular destinations, including Palm Springs and San Francisco, sophomore Abby Prokter shares her excitement about “playing against different opponents'' alongside her “fellow teammates and coaches,” including Assistant Coach Kelly Hickey, who the team endearingly refers to as “CoachKella.”
Although the 2022-23 team has left its impact on the program, it is crucial to think about its longer-lasting legacy as well. Reflecting on the team’s performance this season, SID Matt Folsom states, “West Valley tennis is an undiscovered gem in the Viking athletic department… Coach Hickey has taken a program that began in 2018 and won just a single match to a perfect 12-0 mark in 2023.” Under Coach Hickey’s wing, this program has nursed back to health and begun to take flight, and with that, our fellow Vikings have some support to offer the up-and-coming members of the tennis crew.
Sophomore Tal Volinsky offers some wise words for academic preparation leading into the season, “Definitely, manage your time well and carefully plan out your classes.” More words of wisdom were given for mental toughness, “It helps to have a positive attitude because it can get tough sometimes,” says sophomore Sonya Hu. Freshman Lavanika Sharma has a bit of a different take, iterating, “Please, for your own sake, show up on time. And in case you’re wondering, on time means at least 10 minutes early.” But truly, the essence of being a student-athlete, a women’s tennis player, and a Viking can be summed up by some inspirational words by sophomore Brynn Mckenzie, “It takes time to adjust, but in the end, it’s worth it to be a Viking.”
That’s the 2022-23 West Valley Women’s Tennis Team signing off. See you for another round next season!
References:
Lavanika Sharma, Player for the West Valley Women’s Tennis Team
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