On Sept. 22, the girls varsity tennis team traveled to Glenbrook South to take on the Titans in a conference match. The Trevians came out victorious, winning 5-2. 

    All season long, the team has yet to skip a beat, being undefeated in all conference matches and proving they are a force to be reckoned with come sectionals.

    Head Coach Jerry Morse-Karzen loved the team’s energy and the dominance they’ve displayed throughout the season.

    “The team has been very successful, we have strength in singles and strength in doubles. New Trier has historically had a lot of talent in this area, and now we’re showing it again,” said Morse-Karzen.

    Last year they finished third at state and lost some key seniors, but the underclassmen have successfully stepped up along with the leadership of senior captains Macy Zaban, Emma Bhote, Riley Gorham, Olivia Nickel, and Devlin Guthrie.

    Morse-Karzen was especially impressed by freshman Madison Liu and sophomore Julia Ross who won both their singles matches to propel the Trevians to victory over the Titans.

“Our singles players have been great all year. Freshman Madison Liu has been great, she hasn’t lost a singles match all year. Julia Ross, a sophomore in singles, hasn’t lost all year either,” stated Morse-Karzen.

    The number one doubles pair, Macy Zaban and Emma Bhote, also dominated against the top Glenbrook South doubles pair, winning in straight sets.

    Zaban said, “I think Emma and I played really well together. Our styles of play really complement each other. We get along really well and we just have great chemistry as partners. I feel like I was very consistent in this match which was important because our opponents were consistent as well.”

    While the Trevians walked away with a win, senior captain Riley Gorham, who lost her doubles match, spoke to what she wanted to improve upon.

    “I had a little difficulty getting my backhand as cross court as I wanted to get it. I think I needed to get adjusted to the advantage side since I normally play deuce and feel out my backhand because it started to look better in the second and third set. I think my first serve was a little shaky in the beginning but definitely got better towards the end as well,” said Gorham.

    However, this was the first match Gorham had lost this year and has seen many improvements to her game. 

    “I worked really hard this off-season to minimize the difference between my forehand and backhand, but I still think my forehand is the better groundstroke,” she said.

    While the team has rolled through their schedule, they have had to adapt to the abnormality of playing in a pandemic.

    Their schedule was altered and they were unable to play some of the better teams that are out of their conference, like Lake Forest or Hinsdale Central. In addition, COVID-19 shortened their schedule and most devastatingly of all, State has been cancelled. 

    Though the Trevians will still compete for a conference and sectional title, competing for state was the ultimate goal to cement their legacy as the best team in the state.

    “Becoming captain, I made it clear from the beginning that if State were to happen, that we were going to try and go all the way,” stated Gorham. “Despite what the outcome of sectionals may be, I’m just happy I’m able to be outside on the courts playing tennis under these pandemic circumstances.”