Girls tennis competed at the Great 8 tournament, a group of eight teams pitted against each other in Columbia MO. The girls are undoubtedly skilled, as supported by their exemplary state win last year. The team, however, placed 8th at the tournament.
“The Great 8 has never been our favorite tournament,” explains player Lia Adams ‘24. “It was our first time playing and everyone was very nervous.”
This adjustment explains the tennis team’s seemingly out-of-character eighth place finish at the tournament. Overall, however, the competition helped the team come together and get over their early season nerves.
After losing a few players this year, the tennis team had to foster connections with their new additions, this year’s being Sanjana Akkulugari ‘26, a freshman new to the team as a whole, and Sam Hembree ‘25, who was recently promoted from JV to Varsity.
Over the course of the tournament, the new players bonded with the veterans, especially on the 3-hour drive to Colombia, MO, where the tournament was held. “I’ve never laughed as hard in my life,” says Adams, about the car ride. “We became really close, and really started feeling like a team.”
Historically, the tennis team’s performance at the Great 8 has not been the best. For example, last year’s team finished with a 5th-place finish. The girls aren’t letting this single tournament dampen their spirits.
Mary Colombo ‘23 and Lia Adams ‘24 won their doubles match 8-0, while Colombo also went 8-5 in her singles match. Akkulugari lost one of her matches in a close 6-8 score, but doubled back to win her next 6-1. Additionally, Adams lost her singles match at 8-8, but not before an almost two-hour tiebreaker.
“During my tiebreaker, everyone was cheering for me, and it felt really good,” says Adams. “In another match, we started a ‘LETS GO KNIGHTS’ chant and everyone screamed it, no matter where they were. We started meshing as a team really well.”
If their new bonds are any indication, the tennis team has much in front of them. We can’t wait to see their next match!
