In a recent practice match against Canutillo the tennis team’s skill, mindset, resilience, and chemistry were revealed.

For senior Naomi Hernandez, the match didn’t quite go as expected.

“Today’s match went a little worse than expected,” she said. “My partner and I were not there, but we still won.”

Despite the shaky start, Naomi found consistency in her game and the importance in perseverance, which became clear early on.

“It was really bad,” she said. “I really thought my partner and I were about to lose.”

That early struggle, she explained, highlighted how far the team has come in terms of mental toughness, an area she continues to work on alongside building confidence on the court.

Junior Israel Hernandez II faced his own challenges, especially against an opponent who quickly identified his weakness.

“He kept hitting it to my backhand,” Israel said. “It was frustrating, but it was good for me to learn from my mistakes.”

Moments like these, according to Israel, are exactly why practice matches matter.

“They expose my flaws, test endurance, and build composure under pressure.” Israel said.

For him, the takeaway was clear: improvement comes from discomfort. Head coach Alejandro Rivera, however, saw the bigger picture.

“There is noticeable improvement from last semester,” Rivera said. “They played very well, especially my girls doubles A and mixed doubles A. They looked incredibly sharp and focused, and they were able to execute all of our practice plans well.”

More than just technical skill, Rivera emphasized a shift in team mentality.

“At the beginning of the year, I had quite a few players who were giving up when the score was down,” he said. “Now I see almost all of my players fight for each and every point.”

Team chemistry has also taken a positive turn.

“Its so much better than last season,” Naomi said. “I think there’s more team bonding, everybody gets along, and I don’t see as much drama as there used to be.”

Israel agreed, stating “Everybody feels confident in each other, not only inside, but outside too.”

Still, there’s work to be done, especially in consistency, pointed out Rivera.

“When you play tennis consistently, your opponent will often force errors on themselves,” he said, stressing the importance of doing so.

As the season continues, the focus shifts toward districts, a looming challenge that brings both excitement and nervousness.

“I’m nervous that my partner and I are gonna struggle against El Paso High when we play, so yeah, I’m nervous for districts,” Naomi said. “But, I think we got it, and I’m excited that we’re gonna get to play something so important.”

With goals set on qualifying for regionals, the team is pushing forward with determination. Whether they win or lose, Rivera’s expectation is simple.

“The goal is for them to make their name known and not to go down without a fight.”