The Harriton Girls Tennis team is once again approaching the end of a very successful season. The team has shut out four Central League competitors (Lower Merion, Ridley, Marple Newtown, and Penncrest) with 7-0 victories, and has defeated every other Central team with the exception of Conestoga.

Adding to success of the team, senior Rachel Benstock won the Central League singles tournament 6-1, 6-4 over a strong competitor from Garnet Valley last Saturday. She will also be competing in the Districts Singles tournament this Thursday and Friday, so make sure you wish her luck!

To gain some insight into the success of the girls tennis team, the Harriton Banner sat down with one of the team’s singles players, senior Becca Shapiro, for an interview.

Harriton Banner: First of all, congrats on the amazing season you have had so far. What are the two biggest things to which you can attribute the success of your team?

Becca: Having a team with as much experience as ours is rare. The upperclassmen do an excellent job keeping each other and the rest of the team grounded, reminding everyone to work hard and most importantly, have fun. Beyond that we have a lot of talent at the top in both singles and doubles and depth further down the ladder, giving us plenty of opportunities to win.

HB: And you have certainly taken advantage of those opportunities. But if there were one thing that the team could improve on, what would it be?

Becca: Although we can hit with the best of them, we sometimes have difficulty winning the most important points in close matches. Tennis is a very mental sport. I know for me personally it’s tough to play well when you feel like you’re playing against your own nerves.

HB: How are the team’s chances for districts and states looking? Who is your biggest competitor?

Becca: Our chances for Districts are pretty positive. The number of players with previous postseason experience is very high and our team has a lot of potential. As is usually the case, we will have to contend with Conestoga, the one team in the Central League to beat us.

HB: We know you can handle them! Looking forwards, it is sad to say, but most of this year’s team are seniors and won’t be returning next season. Who are some underclassmen to look out for next year?

Becca: Sophomore Dani Friedman plays second singles this year and just keeps getting better. Freshman Emma Anisman is playing well at second doubles. The third doubles team of sophomore Sonia Groenveld and junior Alex Latta have really improved throughout the season, as well as upper JV juniors Sophia and Gabrielle Kontra. Look out for some rising eighth graders to make an impact next year as well, as there is a very strong class moving up.

HB: Sounds like the Herd will have something to look forward to for next year. Finally, what has been your favorite thing about being on the tennis team for the past four years?

Becca: Of course I love playing tennis individually, but there’s something to be said for being part of a team. We cheer for each other. We order pizza when the bus is three hours late to pick is up from Penncrest. We plot out the best way to steal food from our opponents. These are the things I will miss most from the tennis team, and the teammates who made it all possible. It was a great way to get to know a lot of cool people whom, otherwise, I might have known only as faces in the hall.

The girls finished up their regular season this week. Stay on the lookout for more tennis news as team Districts gets underway, and if you see a tennis player in the hall, make sure to wish her some love…6-love, that is!