After their nearly eight week season, varsity Viper tennis has ended their season as regional finalists. They played their first tournament against San Antonio Reagan High School on Aug. 16, where they won 13 to 6, and closed out their season against Westwood, where they lost 0 to 2.
“During summer, we had two weeks before school started where we had school practices,” senior and varsity player Ninaad Nair said. In addition to these school practices, there was also a tournament held which determines players spots on varsity.
“When [Westwood] played us, they were missing a couple players, but we also had the same issue,” Nair said. “I think two or three of our players were injured. And I remember me and Griffin actually won doubles that match, which was pretty big because I think we’d only beat Westwood doubles once before.”
Though the Vipers faced off against Westwood at their final tournament for regionals, the two teams had played twice before, once in the regular season and once in the district playoffs.
“I like playing against Westwood because they’re kind of one of our biggest rivals,” senior and varsity player Evalina Steadman said. “I feel like the energy is always up there, and everyone tries really hard. So there’s, like, a lot of energy to those matches, and they’re definitely one of the more competitive teams.”
Despite the Viper’s defeat at regionals, Nair and his doubles partner Griffin Heintz. For Nair, this win meant more than a simple victory over Westwood. For the spring season, though the Viper team plays together, scores are more reliant on player’s individual player. So, players can advance individually, but that doesn’t necessarily assure the entire team’s advancement.
“If [Westwood] plays doubles again in spring, they’re probably one of the main obstacles to actually getting to regionals or state,” Nair said. “So knowing that we could beat them, it’s really good.”