Bennington Girls Tennis Team Shows Resilience and Growth Heading into Postseason, Honors Seniors

3–5 minutes

By Marisa Dawson

Group of eight female tennis players posing together on a court, all wearing blue tops and skirts, with sashes indicating a special title or recognition.

The team delivered a strong performance with an 8-1 victory over Burke on April 30, providing a much-needed morale boost after some recent setbacks. This win highlighted solid play across singles and doubles as the squad continues building momentum toward the postseason.

On May 1 at the Crete Tournament, the team placed 7th overall. In singles 1, the team finished 7th with a 1-3 record, while the singles 2 team went 2-2 for 5th place. Both doubles teams earned 4th-place finishes with 2-2 records. 

The team faced a tougher test on May 4, falling 2-7 to Elkhorn North in a home match that also served as senior night. Despite the loss, the evening celebrated the contributions of the senior class. On May 5 at the Lincoln Christian Tournament, the team took 6th place with a split of results: a 2-3 loss to Duchesne, a 0-5 defeat to Skutt, a 3-2 win over Ralston, and a 2-3 loss to Lincoln Christian.

Coach Jennifer Christensen praised the Burke victory as a complete team effort. “The team had a great night of tennis against Burke and we played well across the board for both doubles and singles,” she said. “It was a good morale boost after two losses against Norris and Elkhorn during the week. The girls went out and played solid, smart tennis and it was fun to see everyone playing their game and putting into action game strategy and mental composure that we’ve been working on all season.”

Christensen highlighted the visible progress throughout the season, particularly in doubles strategy, net play with volleys and overheads, and court awareness. “I have seen a lot of growth in every player this year!” she noted. She also commended improvements in mental toughness: “I have seen growth in the players’ ability to maintain their composure in the face of losses and disappointments, questionable line calls, etc. I really stress that our reputation and character is always more important than a tennis point and we want to feel proud with how we carry ourselves on and off the court and the girls have really stepped up to the challenge.”

As the team prepares for upcoming tournaments, Christensen emphasizes fundamentals within each player’s control. “In spring tennis, we have a lot of weather to contend with (wind, sun, cold, etc.) and learning to adjust to weather conditions is part of the game of tennis,” she explained. “We cannot control the weather, but we can control how we adjust to it. … Most importantly, we can control our attitude, our effort, and our hustle. I want the girls to feel that they were able to control those things within their control and know that they left all they had on the court.”

Senior night on May 4 offered a moment to honor the leadership of the team’s upperclassmen. Coach Christensen described the seniors as strong role models who have been varsity players for two years. “These seniors … just are really good leaders,” she said. “They’ve been really good role models in that regard.” She noted their influence on younger players, who see the seniors’ hard work, mutual support, and teamwork as motivation. 

The seniors honored included: 

  • Alima Adekunle
  • Ariel Crawford
  • Addie Foltz
  • Maysen Holdorf
  • Ava Houser
  • Hanifa Mahamane Kosso
  • Zoe Nelson
  • Hannah Wageman

Christensen particularly appreciated how the seniors have embraced a team-first mentality. In a new ladder challenge system for tryouts and spots, the varsity group has not challenged for different ranks. She noted, “They are happy where they are, and they support each other, and they just work as a whole team rather than individual players.” She called the group “a whole family” that comes together to encourage one another.

Looking ahead, the coach expressed pride in the team’s unity and ability to move forward. “I am proud of how the team comes together to support each other. They truly are a team and encourage each other and have become very close over their high school tennis careers,” Christensen said. “I’m also proud of the team as a whole for being able to shake off any losses and look ahead to the next match with a fresh chance to show up and play their best tennis.”

With confidence growing, the team aims to carry that positive momentum and mental strength into the final stretch. “I feel like their confidence has grown a lot so far this year, and I want to see that continuing because they have the ability to do well if they can just stay out of their heads and play good, hard tennis,” Christensen added. “I want to see them keep their mental game strong and keep their composure and let all the work they put into the season show.”

A person wearing a hijab and casual clothing stands on a tennis court near the net, smiling and looking towards the camera.
Group of individuals standing on a tennis court, including a man in a blue polo shirt and gray pants, and several women wearing casual attire and sashes, in bright sunlight with a net in the background.
A group of tennis players and a coach standing on a tennis court, wearing sports attire. They are positioned near the net with a clear blue sky in the background.
A group of people standing on a blue tennis court, including a man in a white shirt and sunglasses, a young woman in a blue top with a sash, and another woman in a gray shirt. The background features tennis nets and green trees.
A group of people standing in line on a tennis court, with a focus on a young girl wearing a sash and a woman in sunglasses and a black top with a floral skirt.
A group of people standing on a tennis court, including a man in a white jacket, a woman in a blue top wearing a sash, and others in athletic clothing.
Group of people standing on a tennis court, smiling and interacting. Several individuals are wearing sports attire, and one is holding a sash. The background features tennis nets and greenery.
Group of people posing on a tennis court, including a woman wearing a sash, indicating a special title or position.
A young female tennis player serving the ball on a court, wearing a blue tank top and a black skirt.
A female tennis player in a blue top is hitting a tennis ball on a court with a net and a fence in the background.
A young woman serving a tennis ball on a court, dressed in a blue tank top and black skirt.
A young woman serving a tennis ball on a court, wearing a blue tank top and a black skirt, with a focused expression.
A female tennis player performing a serve on a court, with a green background and tennis net in view.
A female tennis player hitting a ball during a match, wearing a blue top and black shorts on a tennis court.
A female tennis player in a blue tank top and black skirt prepares to hit a tennis ball on an outdoor court.
A female tennis player prepares to hit a ball during a match on a blue court.
A young woman wearing a blue tank top and black leggings is poised to hit a tennis ball with a racket on a blue tennis court, with a net in the foreground.
A young woman in a blue athletic top and black pants prepares to serve a tennis ball on a court.
A young woman in a blue tank top and black leggings prepares to hit a tennis ball on a court, with a net in the foreground.
A female tennis player in a blue tank top and black skirt is mid-swing, preparing to hit a tennis ball on a court with a fence in the background.
A female tennis player in action, preparing to hit a tennis ball with a racket on a court surrounded by a net.
A female tennis player serving the ball on an outdoor court, wearing a blue tank top with 'Bennington' on it and a black skirt.
A young woman in a blue tank top and black shorts serves a tennis ball on a court, with a net in the foreground and a green backdrop.
A female tennis player in a blue tank top and black shorts is hitting a tennis ball with a racket on a blue court.
A female tennis player is hitting a ball while playing on a court, with spectators seated in the background.

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