's girls tennis team lost a slew of talent from last year’s squad, but the Bears are confident they can continue to have success this fall because of the talented players on hand.
“I would like to have a winning record in our league this season,” Coach John Brooks said. “Last year we were 12-1, but we lost a lot of people from that team due to graduation. If we could have a winning record in our league this year, that would be a really good season.”
One reason why Brooks is confident his squad can succeed is because of the camaraderie the girls enjoy with each other.
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“They are a very cohesive group of girls,” Brooks said. “They play together, they help each other. That is something that we always stress, to work together as one.”
Leading the Bears at first singles is junior Olivia Lacy-Thompson, who also played first singles a year ago.
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“She has a great forehand and backhand,” Brooks said. “She works on her game all year round. She is always looking to get better.”
Lacy-Thompson does that by competing in United States Tennis Association tournaments. She has been playing in tournaments in the metropolitan area, but said that she is ready to compete now outside the region as well.
“I am going to try to play some more outside tournaments, national high-level tournaments,” Thompson said.
She said that playing outside of the high school season has been a great benefit to her.
“It definitely makes things a lot easier when you play all year-round because you are already used to playing matches where there is tough competition,” Lacy-Thompson said.
Playing second singles is sophomore Catarina Florissi, who moves up after playing third singles a year ago.
“She has solid strokes,” Brooks said. “She is relentless. She never gives up. She had a winning record last year.”
Senior Stephanie Barrett will step into the third singles role after playing doubles a year ago.
“She has good skills at the net, especially her backhand,” Brooks said. “Since she is tall, she is 5-foot-11, she should be able to get to a lot of volleys.”
Sophomore Molly Charney and Lexy Praeger, who are best friends, make up the Bears’ first-team doubles squad.
Both played doubles last season as well for Briarcliff but with different partners.
“These two have a great combination of skills, Molly with her backhand and Lexy with her forehand,” Brooks said. "They both complement each other very well.”
Casey Tilles and Isabella Florissi, Catarina’s twin sister, are both sophomores who make up the second-doubles pairing.
“They both have a good set of skills,” Brooks said. "Isabella is good at the volley and has a great backhand. Casey is strategically very smart. She knows where to place the ball in any situation.”
Juniors Logan Davis and Jaime Weinrach, Briarcliff’s third doubles squad, is doing a good job of learning doubles strategies and are playing well together according to Brooks.
Sophomores, Rachel He, Himani Manglik and Florence Chow, will all see time at fourth doubles.
“We lost seven seniors last year so, that’s a lot of players but I think that our team is really motivated to get better and improve their skills,” Lacy-Thompson said. “A key for us is to step forward and play aggressively. That will be important for us to win matches.”
Briarcliff started this season with a 4-3 loss at Blind Brook on Sept. 14 and a 5-2 home loss to Fox Lane Sept. 16.
