With a 5-4 overall record, the Diamond Bar girls tennis team has worked harder than ever to ace their toughest rivals in the Hacienda League and win CIF.
So far, they have beaten Chino, Chino Hills, Los Altos, and South Hills but lost 4-14 to Canyon High School, 6-12 to Ayala and 8-10 to Brea Olinda. Despite their losses, the team has continued to stay optimistic and focused as they prepare to play against their toughest rivals: Wilson, Walnut and Rowland.
During practice, the team has been focusing on their strengths to gain an edge over their competition.
“[The team’s] greatest strength is that the girls like to have fun and the vibes are always great,” head coach Sergio Navarro said. “We have players that, even though they’re young, it’s clear how they’ve been coached, and have been playing for a long time.”
Besides the team’s supportiveness of one another, they have also been dominating their competition through their forehands.
“I would say that they have very strong forehands, which is probably their biggest strength,” Navarro said.
To perform at or above the level of their opponents, the team identified their greatest weaknesses: not taking risky shots.
“A lot of our girls have good technique but they don’t have the power,” Navarro said. “It’s a matter of technique, but it’s also mental.”
Another weakness is the team’s fitness and endurance. Due to their matches being two times a week, they are left with less than adequate time to train or condition per week.
“To help us be better tennis players, we do a lot of footwork, and short but intense exercises,” Navarro said.
The team’s optimism and hard work paid off, helping the team win their first league match 12-6 against Wilson, one of their toughest rivals.
The team will play Los Altos for the second time on Oct. 5, while their most anticipated game against their crosstown rivals Walnut will be on Oct. 17.
