Game, set, match. The Lady Dragons Varsity Tennis team is swinging into action and ‘ready for their season.
This year’s team consists of fourteen girls, primarily underclassmen, who will gain experience that Bracciano hopes will help the team in future years. Unfortunately, much of last year’s team graduated, leaving only three seniors.
‘Hopefully we’ll have a great season,? said Coach Eric Bracciano.
Despite the younger group, Bracciano said that the team is ‘strong at every single position,? and noted that the team will just need to mature a bit as the season wears on, allowing the girls get in their game.
‘Obviously, we want to do as well if not better than last year,? Bracciano said.
In the previous year, the girls were in the middle of the league and their regional. This year they hope to move up in their league, and ‘at least try to finish higher in the tournaments we’re going to play in,? Bracciano said. The team also hopes to repeat their second place at the Macomb-Dakota tournament, a highlight of last year’s season.
During the fall and winter, some of the girls played indoor tennis to prep for the spring, and some played in the summer camps Bracciano held.
‘We’re definitely looking for more of the kids to do that in the future,? Bracciano said.
A middle school tennis team was also started this year, which Bracciano hopes he will get students more experience before they come to the high school tennis team.
As far as changes at the high school level, the team received a welcome surprise in sophomore Lou Debus, a German foreign exchange student playing number one singles.
Changes or no, now that the season is underway the girls have been practicing two hours a day, rain or shine.
The team played their first match on Thursday, April 12 against Farmington Hills Harrison. Lake Orion won number four singles with Agatha Pawlikowski, number one doubles with Henna Ata and Nadia Minart, number two doubles with Elena Kovac and Hannah Young, and number four doubles with Alexandra Ostezan and Laura Fender. The match was ultimately a tie however.
Bracciano homes Orion residents will come and cheer for the Lady Dragons Varsity Tennis team as they progress into their season.
‘The girls are working hard, so we definitely appreciate that and respect that,? Bracciano said.