Just 24 hours removed from the grueling Midland Dow Classic, the girls varsity tennis team enjoyed a change of scenery. For the first time all year, FHC hosted a dual match versus the Lowell Red Arrows.  The Rangers’ first, second, and third singles teams composed of Lily Ohlman, Libby Moog, and Emily Johnson captured huge wins to boost FHC to a 6-3 triumph over Lowell. The first three matches of the year consisted of grueling, multiple-opponent matchups with top-tier schools, so the ability to focus on just one opponent benefitted the girls greatly. Regardless of the match size or difficulty, the mindset and preparation remain constants for this Ranger squad.

“We approach every match the same. It doesn’t matter if it’s a quad, a tournament, or a dual like we had tonight,” assistant coach Jeremy Moog said. “We have things that we want to accomplish when we step on the court in match play. We have a certain way we want to implement the things that we work on in practice.”

Speaking of constants, a number of steady-handed and reliable players continued to show out and play at a high level. Freshmen Lily Ohlman built on her Midland Dow Classic victory with convincing 6-1 wins in both sets. Likewise, senior Emily Johnson showed no mercy to the Red Arrows, exiting the match with victories of 6-3 and 6-2. 

It was a little more tricky for junior Libby Moog, as her 6-4 win in the first set was followed by a nail-biting matchup in the second set. Nonetheless, the junior captain emerged victorious by a score of 7-6. These performances truly prove the capability of the singles teams this season.

In the doubles category, FHC also recorded some impressive matches. The first doubles team made up of senior Delaney Michalski and sophomore Brooke Kushak took home a victory over their Lowell counterparts. The duo consisting of sophomore Ella Hunnewell and Lucy Wu picked up right where they left off in Midland, winning by scores of 7-5 and 6-2. 

Additionally, senior Lily Campbell and freshman Saniya Mishra teamed up to take home a doubles victory. The ability for FHC’s doubles teams to consistently perform at a high level is reflected by each player’s drive and determination.

“It felt like all of my work had finally paid off,” Brooke Kushak said following her first career varsity win. “It has been a dream of mine to win a game on varsity. I just try to put in 110% effort in everything, play as much as I can, and work on the things I know that I need to improve on.”

This Saturday, the girls varsity tennis team faces off against its bitter rival in Forest Hills Northern in a quad. This match on April 24 will take place at both FHC and FHN, beginning at 8:00 AM.