With a new school year among us, Convent Varsity tennis is swinging into action with multiple wins for the start of the season. The girls continued their winning streak on Monday, winning five out of seven matches against International High School.

“My experience on the tennis team has been amazing, a lot of these girls I have been on the team with for four years,” senior Scarlett Stephens said. “It’s such a great opportunity to get to know students in the grades below that you may not know otherwise,”

The tennis program focuses on sportsmanship and playing competitively, according to sacredsf.org. The team has a new coach this year, Russell Denhert, who has played tennis since high school and continued his love for the game after college in his adult life. Not only is he new to coaching Convent tennis, but this is his first year coaching in general. So far the team has connected with him and thinks he is a great coach, according to Asha Mehta. 

“To be honest, it’s been one of the most rewarding things I have ever done,” tennis coach Russell Denhert said. “I am quite surprised every day at the rate of improvement and just the spirit of the team.”

The players practice every day after school for two hours with an average of one to two games a week. Some of Convent’s victories so far have been against Bentley, Athenian, and International High School. The team is made up of a dynamic group of players with four singles players and three doubles groups. Their strong start to the season has fueled their excitement and competitive spirit to keep them as they progress through the season.

“It’s hard balancing high school homework and a varsity sport, which is something I have had to adjust to,” freshman Maria Lutz said. “The seniors are super super welcoming and give great advice.”

According to the team, tennis is more than the sport for the Convent girls; it is about having a supportive community. The bonds they make off the court help them win games and support each other when games are lost. 

“My favorite part is the people I get to play with,” Stephens said. “Especially my doubles partner, Caroline, I have played with her for three years, and it’s so much fun.”