By Sydney Brown

The tennis match last Tuesday between Richardson and Mesquite showcased the school’s best outing so far. The varsity tennis team won 15-4. Head coach Holly Matkins said the team played hard throughout the match.

“We did great, we won and that puts us 5-1 in the district with only 1 match until the district meet,” Matkins said.

Douglass also said the match ended on a strong note.

“It was the best game that we played so far,” Douglass said. “We were just doing better that day than normal.”

Matkins spent weeks pushing the team in preparation for the match.

“We were practicing and working hard since school started,” Matkins said.

Although the team as a whole performed well, several athletes had stand-out performances.

“The mixed doubles team played very well,” Matkins said. “I want the team to continue having really good team spirit and encourage each other on and off the court. They had a good mental focus.”

Students competing in the mixed doubles team had unique ways to prepare for the match.

“Mentally I just reminded myself to be willing to endure more pain then my opponent.” senior varsity tennis player David Yaqubian said. “If he feels more pain than me I will win.”

Other players used different methods of preparing for the game.

“I talked with my doubles partner about how we wanted to play the game to get us excited for it,” Leighton said.

Despite Richardson’s victory, Matkins said some problems that occurred during the match and wants the team to improve in those areas.

“I want them to learn how important it is to play smart,” Matkins said. “I don’t want them to drop their play to their opponents level.”

The tennis players also believed that there were areas that they could focus on that could help them be successful in future matches.

“We really could have focused more and work together better,” Leighton said.

The team also felt like each person needed to gain strength in certain areas.

“I feel like sometimes I need to play more aggressive and just be more ferocious on the court,” Yaqubian said. “I feel really good about my doubles. I just wish I continued that into my singles match.”