Tennis tournaments have started back up for the spring season and varsity and JV tennis have played a few matches already. Varsity will have another tournament tomorrow in Georgetown.

At Copperas Cove Feb. 17, junior Allison Valdez and senior Clayton Shaw placed 1st in their doubles match after placing 6th the week before.

“They just need more matches like this where they have to play with confidence and play hard because the other team is not going to give it to them,” tennis coach Kenneth Peiser said.

Valdez and Shaw lost the first set 4-6, won 6-0 in the next and were down 3-6 in tie breaker and came back to win 11-9.  

“[Placing 1st] felt great,” Valdez said. “I don’t think anyone had high hopes for us winning, including me because we were playing such a great team, but once we started getting the hang of things it was one of the best matches I’ve ever played. Walking off the court after the win was one of the best feelings ever, getting to hear everybody cheering and giving my teammate a hug. It was truly one of my favorite matches and I hope to have more like it.”

Senior Amore Zapata and freshman Caroline White placed 2nd at the Feb. 17 meet.

“These two are playing good so far,” Peiser said. “They finished 3rd last week and kept it in play this week to place higher.”

Junior Luke Rogers won consolation. He lost his first match 6-8, but won the next three. Sophomore Chesley Breuer went 2-2 Feb. 17 after winning 2nd Feb. 10.

“[She] played great [Feb. 10],” Peiser said. “[She] came to the net well, vollied good and held her own on the baseline.”

Senior James Vasquez placed 5th at the recent tennis tournament after only winning consolation at the meet before that.

“[We are] still working on keeping the rallies going, but [he] played well,” Peiser said. 

JV also came away from the last two tournaments with some victories.

“It was a good day with plenty of play,” Peiser said. “Some are starting to see some of their strengths and weaknesses and will hopefully keep working on it in practice.”