On Thursday, Sept. 25, the Archie Williams girls varsity tennis team triumphed over the San Rafael High School Bulldogs in a 6-1 victory on their home court. All seven matches were a testament to the Falcons’ hard work throughout the first half of the season. The Falcons showcased their talent in a commanding victory that sent a clear message to the Bulldogs.
Archie Williams eighth-ranked senior, Delphina Dong, started off her match with the first few sets being a back-and-forth duel. But after a hard hit forehand that the opposing player was unable to return, the momentum completely shifted, and Delphina went on a roll, winning 10 straight matches, closing out her sets 6-1 and 6-0, and extending her personal win streak to six matches.
“This season, we have really been working on improving our footwork. It’s a very overlooked part of the sport, but this big win showed just how important it is,” Delphina said.
Archie Williams sophomores Jessie Dong and Jade Tanamachi were also dominant in their doubles match. With dominant 6-1 and 6-0 wins—featuring Jessie’s powerful forehand in the third game of the first set and Jade’s overhead smash in the opening game of the second—the team secured a shutout over San Rafael.
The following doubles match occurred shortly after, as fourth-ranked sophomore Ana Flandermeyer and fifth-ranked senior Amara Lee-Watson took control of their match, winning swiftly 6-3 and 6-1 in both sets. The two persevered through an uneven first few sets, showing their tenacity as a duo.
In the third doubles match of the day, junior Ashlyn Alba and senior Gabriella Monardi secured a comfortable victory over their opponents. This win left them feeling optimistic for the second half of the season and pleased with their team’s effort.
“Overall, everyone worked hard, and even with a couple of losses, we stayed strong as a team. And it gave us a lot of confidence and momentum. We know what we’re capable of, and it motivates us to keep pushing for more wins,” Ashlyn said.
Archie Williams senior, Chloe Dupont, had a gritty performance, staying strong throughout the ups and downs. She won the first set 6-2 and started the second set off strong, but her opponent mounted a comeback and won the second set, 5-7. The two were trading points, an even bout for the majority, until Chloe pulled out the win, 10-7.
In the final singles match of the day, top-ranked senior Amalya Rajparia showcased her skills by displaying remarkable accuracy, with numerous backhands down the line out of her opponents’ reach. Most notably, she had a precise cross-body forehand to the left corner, perfectly placed. She won both of her sets, 6-1.
As the team enters the second half of the season, they remain optimistic about the future but still have some areas for improvement.
“Our team came out super aggressive, and it really showed. All of our players have been very consistent this year, and the footwork we have been working on in practice really came into play today. The only thing I want to work on is our volleys, which we haven’t practiced as much,” said Archie Williams girls varsity tennis head coach David Thomas.
Following a dominant win against a strong tennis team, the Falcons aim to carry their momentum into their next match against Terra Linda on Tuesday, Sept. 30, at 3:30 p.m.
