Senior night is always a notable event for high school sports teams; no matter the tradition, the event honors the athletes and all the valuable people in their competitive journey. For PVHS’s girls tennis team, their senior night(on September 28), ended in success as they won their match against Upper Perk with a score of 7-0, making their record 12-3 for the season.
Prior to their match against Upper Perk, the girls tennis team held a ceremony to honor its seniors. The girls, accompanied by their parents, walked through a tunnel of teammates holding tennis rackets. This tradition, marking their final home match of the year, held deep significance for the seniors.
“Senior night meant a lot to me because it was the last time we were able to play as a team at home. We usually don’t have a big audience for tennis but senior night brings in a crowd, which is exciting,” Elle Dunner, a senior captain, said.
As they approached the end of the season, seniors recognized the pivotal roles their coaches and teammates played in their tennis careers.
“Having an uplifting and kind group of girls and coaches by my side when I play has made the entire experience ten times better. The sport itself is obviously enticing but I think most of the fun I had was off the court with my friends,” senior Samantha Schoenwald said.
While the end of the season brings excitement, for many on the team, it’s also a sentimental reflection of the past four years and a poignant reminder of passing time.
“It is definitely bittersweet because I am excited for this next chapter, but I love tennis and I love being surrounded by my team. As a senior there is going to be a lot of lasts and I didn’t think this one would come so quickly. I will probably be in denial about it being over for a while,” Hope Breneman, a senior captain, said.
Although the tennis season is coming to a close, many of the seniors hope to continue playing in college, whether in club teams or recreationally. After a successful senior night, PVHS’s girls tennis team is looking forward to their upcoming four years, all the while holding onto the memories and friendships they made throughout their high school tennis career.