After an offseason with much anticipation, Serra tennis was unable to take the ‘ad’ against a really good SI team in the first match of the season, as varsity fell 1-6. Varsity No.1 singles and last year’s MVP Ben Lipeles competed in a thrilling match, yet fell to SI’s No.1 singles.

Serra’s lone win came at the hands of the No.3 doubles tandem of Oliver Hendrix and Jason St. Geme. On Friday, February 23, in a non-league match against Aragon, Serra varsity (despite valiant efforts across the courts) also fell 1-6. The lone win came from No. 1 singles Ben Lipeles as he bounced back and won in straight sets 6-4, 6-4. He broke the serve of Aragon’s No. 1 singles.

The team will continue their hard work, restringing and refining their racquets and improving their game. They aspire for that ever-elusive, yet so-close first-team victory as they prepare to take on one of the best teams in the WCAL in Bellarmine on February 27.

In their first match of the season on February 22, Serra JV tennis also began their season against SI on the road. Singles, Jonathan Barker (7-5, 6-2) and Ashton Wong (7-5, 2-6, 10-6) ‘aced’ their opponents and doubles tandem Nikhil Philips and Andy Cheng(6-2, 6-4) ‘sliced’ their way to victory. Despite a 3-4 team loss that came down to the final game, there was a lot of potential as the Serra JV team kept SI on their feet. JV fell in its second match against Aragon 3-4. They stayed competitive throughout the whole match and similarly are on the precipice of receiving their first win.