Old Rochester girls tennis looking for aces this season
Caroline Houdelette lunges for a ball. Photos by Mari Huglin 
Rose Bouley smiles at practice. 
Eva Pinhacos gets ready to return the ball. 
Bridget Coryer gets in position. 
Maggie Ewing returns a ball. 
Elsa Pothier and Zadie Goyette team up when playing Queen of the Court. 
Elena Villafranco laughs as she finishes a set. 
Paige Marotta swings for the ball. 
Miah Motta pivots for a ball. 
Maggie Ewing and Eve Skomal play as doubles.
Caroline Houdelette lunges for a ball. Photos by Mari Huglin
Rose Bouley smiles at practice.
Eva Pinhacos gets ready to return the ball.
Bridget Coryer gets in position.
Maggie Ewing returns a ball.
Elsa Pothier and Zadie Goyette team up when playing Queen of the Court.
Elena Villafranco laughs as she finishes a set.
Paige Marotta swings for the ball.
Miah Motta pivots for a ball.
Maggie Ewing and Eve Skomal play as doubles.
MATTAPOISETT — The Old Rochester Regional High School girls tennis team looks forward to a season of aces as spring begins.
Head coach Jim McGonigle said he is feeling confident to take on his third year coaching Old Rochester.
“We'll see how the season goes, how those teams look, but I'm very optimistic that we can make a pretty good state tournament this year,” he said.
The team is made up of around 20 girls mostly sophomore and juniors, but with experienced seniors McGonigle explained.
He said that even though the team is slightly younger, the girls have created a supportive, welcoming environment allowing everyone to improve.
“The new kids have stepped up because expectations are high,” McGonigle said. “We were undefeated last year.”
The girls tennis team had an undefeated regular season of 18 wins, but lost in the round of 16 in the state championship last year.
Caroline Houdelette and Neva Matos are two of the senior captains who both play singles. They said they hope to build camaraderie within the team and assist younger players where they can.
Houdelette said as a captain she wants to make sure everyone is supported in their academic and personal lives since it can affect their play.
“If you have a rough match, there's always someone cheering you on either like they're playing next to you or if they're just watching from outside,” Houdelette said.
Houdelette’s favorite part about being on the team is getting pumped up playing loud music with the team before matches. Matos said one of the teams’ strengths is staying positive and always fighting through tough matches.
“We're gonna run through that ball even if we think that we're not gonna get there,” Matos said.
Paige Marotta and Molly Franco are juniors who play doubles together and recently joined varsity. They hope to stay consistent and become more aggressive throughout the season.
Franco said they were a bit nervous to play the first match of the season, but after winning felt more confident.
Marotta said her favorite part of being on the team is feeling supported through every step even though tennis is an individualized sport.
She loves when she can hear her teammates cheering her on while they are playing in their own matches.
“It's super interesting just to see how we can all support each other while being in different games and such,” Marotta said.
