As the girl’s tennis team prepares to begin a new season, Laura Rice and two star varsity players reflect on last year’s highlights and challenges, while also looking ahead to the team’s goals for the months ahead. From memorable matches, to personal growth, the team’s coach and top varsity players have shared their insights on what they learned last season and how they plan to build on that experience. Rice, Aaliyah Mirza, and Sharelle Toumoua discuss the team’s aspirations, preparation, and the excitement of representing Ridgeview on the court.
Junior, Aaliyah Mirza, states, “I’ve been playing tennis since freshman year.” She joined tennis because when she would play it with her dad she enjoyed the sport and thought it was fun. She reflected on last season by saying, “It was the best season!” “I feel sad now that last season is over. We weren’t just teammates, but best friends,” she added. Something from last season that has helped her grow for this season is the motivation from her teammates. “If I had to pick to do something more differently it would be to practice more often than I did,” she says. Her goals for this season are to take practice serious. “When I’m at practice now, I take it more seriously. There are different people and there are different vibes. I would also like to get better at my serves. I would like to be more accurate and pay more attention to where I hit the ball back,” she says. Something she is excited about the most this season is, “I’m super excited about the tournament coming up in October. My biggest strength has to be God. He always helps me through my losses and guides me to become a better player,” said Mirza. She says that to her success is her and her teammates growing together and building their skills as a team.
Junior, Sharelle Toumoua has also been playing tennis since freshman year. The reason Sharelle plays tennis is because her mom influenced her to play, she was varsity captain and that is also where she wants to be. “Last season was my favorite season!” She says, “We had an unmatching bond. Something that can’t be replaced,” she says. One of her goals for this season is to win first place in the Louis Cup. Another goal of hers is to win a medal for the SYVL. “I’m preparing differently this season by analyzing my opponents weaknesses and to walk out of every match learning something new,” she added. Sharelle is looking forward to competing against Bakersfield High School, Independence High School, South High School, and Bakersfield Christian High School. She says that those matches are always intense and push her and the team to perform at the highest level. “I think my biggest strength this season will be my ability to stay focused and lead by example on and off the court. I’ve worked hard and put in so much effort to never miss a single practice to become more consistent and strategic in my play, and I hope to use that to help the team stay grounded during tough matches.” she says. She is ready and excited for this season!
Coach Rice says, “Last season was a wonderful experience. The team was very much like a family and enjoyed their time together whether at practice, matches or during the school day. They were a lot of fun to be around and made it fun to be out on the courts with them.” Their biggest highlight of last season is coming in second at the Wasco Tournament since the year before they lost out on taking third by ONE point!! “Like many other years, we always have players that graduate so you are left with those voids, so the new players to Varsity as well as the returners must work hard to fill those spots and they did their best to do that through all their practices and matches,” said Rice. She says this because she feels this is a challenge. She also says, “Our goals are to try to win our Division in the upcoming Lewis Cup, as well as be able to beat Independence and Highland in our League. I feel if we could improve on consistency and our volleys, this would help us be more well rounded in match play. I would like them to know that my players are always working hard to improve their skills, and it means a lot to them to be playing for their school.” added Rice.
With a renewed sense of focus and determination, the girls tennis team enters this season ready to build on past experiences and strive for even greater accomplishments. Their dedication, teamwork, and enthusiasm set a tone for what promises to be an exciting season. As they pursue their goals, the support of classmates, families, and the school community will continue to play a vital role in their journey while they represent Ridgeview on the court.
