Season is learning experience for Providence tennis
BURBANK — The season has become a valuable learning for the Providence High girls’ tennis team.
The Pioneers revived their program after almost 30 years without a team, hoping to begin a new tradition with a squad rife with limited experience.
Providence might not have come out of its latest match with a victory, losing to visiting Le Lycee, 17-1, in a nonleague contest Monday at the Burbank Tennis Center, but every match is an opportunity to learn, improve and have fun in the process.
“It’s the first time in 28 years that our school has had a team and, back then, Providence was an all-girls school,” Providence doubles player Tana Carrillo said. “So it’s really awesome to actually start something that will hopefully keep going. I just think it’s great for all of us to be a part of it. ”
Carrillo and doubles partner Abby Gold earned Providence’s lone win of the match, 6-3.
“We, for the most part, haven’t even played tennis competitively before this season, so it’s kind of new for all of us,” Gold said. “It’s a whole different thing playing for a team and representing your school, and I love it.
“What has been great is our school has been so positive and they have really supported us. All that really matters for us is the attitude and, on our team, we promote a lot of positivity.”
Like Providence (2-3), Le Lycee, which was playing its first contest of the season, is also a first-year program, although the school has fielded a boys’ team for years.
“This is a historic season for us, as well, as we have started a girls’ team for the first time,” Lions Coach Xavier Rogala said. “But the good thing for us is that we have some players with tournament experience.”
Le Lycee won all nine singles sets while dropping just four games against the Pioneers, with No. 1 Isabella Mandich winning, 6-1, 6-0, 6-0, No. 3 Sofia Mandich winning, 6-0, 6-2, 6-0, No. 2 Maellys Ezidore taking two, 6-0, 6-0, and Colombina Vericel winning one, 6-1.
“Since we don’t have a lot of experience, it’s literally a clinic every time that I see them,” said Providence Coach Mark Pfau, who has no seniors on his squad. “I think the biggest thing for us is just the commitment level and players wanting to be here and working to get better.
“But it’s just such a great group to be around. They are positive, they are upbeat and they really support one another. That’s what makes it fun. ... I’ve also see such an improvement in all of them and that’s very encouraging.”
The Pioneers came close to winning a second set in the final set of the afternoon, however, the doubles team of Ali Goretsky and Adrianna Aranda lost a close one in a tie-breaker, 7-6 (7-5). The doubles duo of Zoe Bevridge and Honore Wood also lost a tight set, 7-5.
