Gracie Martinelli warms up before tennis match against Mira Loma on Sept. 21.

Photo by SHAI NIELSON

“Thanks for coming to Whitney High School,” Coach John Bosco said.

With a calm and casual atmosphere, Bosco welcomed Mira Loma’s girls’ tennis team to play in the team’s first league game. However, parents and fans were quiet and courteous to the guests at this first event since the switch from a coed tennis program to the girls playing a separate fall season.

The girls started out by introducing the game match-ups and ended the announcements with a friendly handshake.

For singles, the top three girls are Gracie Martinelli, Sasha Datta and Kasey Holm, who all lost their matches. Playing Olga Yulayeva, ranked No. 2 in the state, Martinelli said she tried her best.

“I was expecting a hard match, [but] I think I did good against that good of a player,” Martinelli said.

In doubles match-ups, all the teams lost in their third set. The doubles games lasted later on into the afternoon but finally ended on a heated set point where Mira Loma got the final point, making it 7-6.

Overall, Bosco said was proud of the girls’ first matches.

“I want[ed] the girls to play hard, really hard, and not give up on points and games,” Bosco said.

Although the match was a cumulative loss of 5-3, this was a learning experience for the newly formed all-girls tennis team.

“I have learned from my mistakes and know what to improve on,” Martinelli said.

By EMMA RICHIE and SHAI NIELSON