Varsity Tennis won their first match of the Fall season against Lake Dallas. This was their first game since March when everything was put to a halt because of COVID-19.

“The main reason I along with the rest of the team have decided to keep playing tennis is that we love the game,” senior Jack Alagood said. “Most student-athletes feel the same way; we play these sports to escape the stressful school environment by doing something we love.”

Although The UIL rules didn’t require players to use their masks during the match, they still did, despite the other team not using it.

“We took a lot of precautions during the match, such as wearing masks even when we are playing and washing our hands after serving,” Head Coach Carlos Blanco said. “I wanted to be extra cautious because it would be so catastrophic if someone got infected and died because of the virus.”

Despite the fact that they used their masks, Varsity Tennis managed to win with a score of 12-7.

“For many players, the mask makes it more difficult to breathe and drops their performance,” Alagood said. “While I may not have felt weaker during that match, I certainly have felt that way in more tedious ones.”

This match also marked the debut of Pamala Fairbrother, the assistant coach. She moved from Orange County, California last November.

“The players and I get along pretty well,” Fairbrother said. “They are aware I have no formal tennis training experience but they still seem to respect me as a coach as I’m now able to do more for them.”

Thanks to the precautions they are taking, no one has been tested positive for COVID-19. However, they couldn’t play for the next two weeks because a member of another Tennis team had a test come back positive.

“The whole thing was different and unusual,” Blanco said. “I know parents, students, teachers and staff in general are working extra hard in order to make this school year happen, my thanks and admiration to all of them.”