NDB Tennis Team Dominates in Clovis Tourney

[Editor's note: The following was submitted by Laura Kastilani, a student journalist at Notre Dame High School Belmont. If you would like to share your school's sports stories, email the editor at joan.dentler@patch.com.]

By Laura Kastilani

The Notre Dame Belmont varsity tennis team dominated in the Clovis tournament in Fresno earlier this month.

Alivia Horsley, Amy Smerdel, and Riley McGlinchey played singles, and Maddy Ching, Carly Baumann, Bridgett Moriarty, Sophia La Herran, Jenny Joyner, Caitlyn Lasorsa, and Rebecca Zheng played doubles in the tournament held Sept. 6 and 7 in Clovis, CA. They played Del Oro, Manteca, Liberty, Porterville, and Los Alamitos high schools, winning the overall game for all the schools.

This was not an easy task, however, and teammates encouraged each other during the grueling games.

“The Clovis tournament was emotionally and physically draining. At points it felt like I wouldn’t be able to finish my match, but then I would hear all my teammates cheering for me. Being the youngest on the varsity team is hard at times, but because of tennis I have not only made great friends, but sisters. Going through Clovis and all the other experiences throughout the season has brought our team closer together, and I am truly thankful for the experience that I have had and will continue to have throughout my years here at Notre Dame,” Riley McGlinchey said.

“The Clovis tournament was particularly more difficult than other matches because we had to play in weather upwards of 105 degrees. Each of my five matches was strenuous, and I was always the last of the team to be finished. As a team of friends, peers, and sisters, we supported one another until the very last point of the last match, and I am so thankful that all my teammates cheered for me, since I was the last player standing,” Amy Smerdel said.

The Clovis tournament also had sentimental value for seniors, and many seniors played in the past Clovis tournaments.

“This was my last year in Clovis, and I was so excited that we won this tournament 2nd year in a row. Throughout my three years on varsity, I am very honored to be on the team that won this tournament. Throughout the years I’ve been playing tennis, I will always have my championship shirts to always remember the Clovis tournaments,” Maddy Ching said.