New Trier’s Girls Varsity Tennis Team has gotten their season off to a great start. On Saturday, September 8, the Trevians placed 3rd in the Deerfield Invitational. Despite the windy weather, seniors Audrey Mang and Kirstie Woodbury won the invitational in the #2 doubles category, starting the Trevians off on a good note. The duo then beat Oak Park 6-4, 6-0, Highland Park 3-6, 6-3, 6-1 and Lake Forest 3-6, 6-4, 6-2. Trevian assistant coach Kerry Hall was very impressed with their performance.

“That was the best doubles I have seen them play all year,” Hall said. The Trevians had runner-up Sophomore Taylor Tamblin in #1 singles. She beat Loyola (Hannah Post) and Oak Park (Katarine Vasic) before losing to Elizabeth Zoedani of Lake Forest 6-4, 7-5. In #1 doubles and #3 doubles, the Trevians lost some very close matches.

“We had some long, close and heartbreaking third-set tiebreakers,” Hall said. The Trevians look to help each other improve as they continue going deeper and deeper into the season.

“All the girls work so hard to help each other improve their game and they are very supportive,” Learner said.

The Trevians finished 2nd at state and look to continue that success this year. Although they have just one player returning from their previous State roster, they have a lot of depth. Right now, freshman Cammie Frei is playing #1 singles, while sophomore Taylor Tamblyn and senior Woodbury are also big contributors. Senior Carol Finke has a wrist injury and has not yet competed for the Trevians, but the team expects a speedy recovery from her. Given their multi-year lineup, the team will stay competitive with their major rivals Hinsdale Central, Lake Forest, Stevenson, Glenbrook South and Highland Park.

“Our goal is to be the best we can be and be a team. We’re looking for kids who work hard and put the team first,” head coach Jerry Morse-Karzen said.

The Trevians look forward to their upcoming matches against Evanston on Tuesday and Glenbrook South and Thursday, but their long-term goal is to improve over the season and hit their stride in the postseason. “The team has already become pretty close and our new coach, Jerry Morse-Karzen, has exceeded all our expectations, “We’re playing well already and I think we’ll only get better as the season continues,” senior McCue said. The Trevians have four more matches and one more invite before conference, sectionals and state. The state meet will be hosted by Buffalo Grove High School from October 18th to October 20th.