The 2024 season was a memorable one for the DC tennis team. The “hardworking” team, as  head coach Analia Peters described them, finished its rewarding season at the start of October, registering great accomplishments for many of the squad’s athletes.

The team opened its season with a match against Jenkintown, putting up a tough fight before losing the contest. Next, they played Sacred Heart, where DC junior Lily Peters played an inspiring individual match against her opponent, Grace Kinkade. Lily won the first set, 6-4; tied the second set, 6-6, before losing the tiebreaker, 7-5; and brought home the victory in the decisive final set, 10-4. Unfortunately, Lily’s win was the lone victory as the Knights lost the match to Sacred Heart, 4-1.  

Following these two losses, though, the girls played BAL rival Dock Mennonite Academy and reversed their fortunes, winning every single set, 5-0. Just three days later, the team faced Dock again and repeated the impressive performance with a 5-0 victory. During the next week, the Knights delivered yet another strong outing against Phil-Mont Christian Academy, where senior Alex Grant and freshman Lizzie Serfass played a nearly flawless doubles match, winning the first set, 7-5, and the second, 6-4. The team followed up these performances with excellent matches that allowed many of the athletes—including Lily Peters, Addie Smith, and Joy Wu—to  move on to the PIAA championship,

However, the team’s many accomplishments went well beyond athletics. Both Coach Peters and many team members attributed their success to the way the team worked together. As Coach Peters added, “The girls… just seemed like they bonded,” developing their skills as they grew closer together. “We grew throughout the season so much,” Lily reflected. 

Indeed, the 2024 season was filled with many accomplishments for members of the DC tennis team, who bonded and formed a strong foundation for next year.

As the girls tennis team at Delaware County Christian School enters the final three weeks of their season, the players and coaches reflect on their progress in achieving their goals. With a current league record of 2-2 and a mainly new lineup, the team is working to overcome challenges but remains focused on maintaining growth, developing teamwork, and building a strong foundation.   

Last year, the team faced significant difficulties, including lineup changes against strong opponents such as Jenkintown. According to junior Sonya Curyto, one of the team captains, "Last year, the most difficult thing we dealt with was switching the lineup as a result of injuries." This year’s season has its own challenges as the team faces a rebuilding process. "This year's hardest part is that we lost a lot of seniors last year, and so the majority of our team is new to tennis," Sonya explained.

Even with these obstacles, the team is making improvements toward creating a positive and supportive environment. Mrs. Analia Peters, the head coach, highlighted the strong dynamic between the players: "They’re doing great and getting along really well, and there’s a good number of freshmen." 

With 14 players on the team, including nine new participants, this season has been about more than just improving on the court—it’s been about building a sense of community. Sonya emphasized her personal goals as a captain: "One of my goals is to create community within this team and motivate new players to keep moving forward in improving their game."

The team is also looking forward to upcoming opportunities, such as the singles tournament, which Mrs. Peters sees as a chance for players to showcase their growth and skills. "I’m looking forward to the girls getting to know each other and growing as tennis players, as girls, as teenagers," she said. For Senior Captain Adelaide Smith, the season’s highlight is the daily grind of practices, where the team not only honed their skills but has also bonded. "This year, I am looking forward to the fun practices we will have, and my goal is improving and strengthening my skills," Addie shared.

As the team heads into the final stretch of the season, their focus remains on building a unified squad. While last year's team reached the second round of the BAL and saw individual successes in singles and doubles, they fell short of districts, which is something they aim to repeat after having achieved it two years ago. This year's team may be young, but with standout players such as Sonya, Addie, and Lily Peters leading the way, they believe that they can continue to develop and find success as a team.

With just three weeks left in the season, the girls tennis team is focused on finishing strong. As Coach Peters puts it, the journey has been about more than just wins and losses: "It’s great to see them growing as tennis players and as individuals." This year, the team’s greatest victory may be the supportive and encouraging environment they’ve created, which is a foundation that promises even greater success in the years to come.