Coming off last year’s unbelievable conference winning season, the Lynbrook girls tennis team was excited to get the 2019 season started. Prior to the season, Coach Shari Bowes explained how she was “more than confident that [the team] will finish at the top of our conference this year.” Bowed added, “We are a deep, young team with a lot to offer both in tennis skills and athleticism.” The team was led by two seniors, Arpie Bakhashian and Hayden Bloomberg. Backing them up was a strong group of juniors, sophomores, and freshmen. The team might have lost six starting players, but that did not stop them. The girls’ varsity tennis team has won its conference, yet again.

The season started strong with a 5-2 win over Calhoun. The team lost its second match against Oceanside, a very tough competitor, 2-5. In that match, third singles, Junior Ambiya Hussain, and fourth doubles, sophomores Emma Ward and Jordan Glickman, both pulled out a win. The team bounced back from that loss and won their next six matches. They dominated New Hyde Park 7-0. Third doubles, junior Lexi Samuelson and freshman Ava Schwam won their match 6-0. The next two matches were against tough competitors, South Side and JFK who are 6-3 and 8-3, respectively. Both teams have talent, and, judging from years past, the matches are almost always even. Lynbrook was able to battle past both teams winning 4-3 each time. In both matches, all four doubles teams came out on top. Fourth doubles, Emma Ward and Glickman, won their matches by impressive scores of 6-1, 6-3, and 6-3, 6-0, respectively. 

 Lynbrook played exceptionally well at Long Beach, and all three singles, as well as all four doubles, were victorious in their matches. Second singles, sophomore Alex Travis, as well as third singles, Hussain, beat their opponents in two sets against Massapequa, leading Lynbrook to a 6-1 victory. The team beat Calhoun 4-3 in its next match, with all four doubles teams dominating their opponents. Sisters Grace Bodian (sophomore) and Maggie Bodian (junior) won 6-2, 6-3 in their second doubles match. 

Going into the second match against Oceanside, the Owls were second in the conference. This match would decide if they stayed in second or if they would  have a chance to win the conference. Going into the match, Bowes was focused on “specific drills in both singles and doubles.” This preparation paid off, and the team was victorious 4-3. With the match coming down to the wire, Hussain, did not let the pressure get to her. In three tough sets, she proved victorious in the second and third sets, with scores of  6-2 each time. 

The team’s next match resulted in a victory over New Hyde Park, 7-0. With South Side wanting revenge, the team knew its second match against the strong competitor would not be easy. They travelled to South Side’s home courts, knowing that they would need to play their best. Alex Travis would pull out a huge win. Third doubles, Samuelson and sophomore Sophie Ward, had an impressive 6-3, 6-1 victory over their opponents. The match was a long one and came down to the last two matches. Lynbrook was up 3-2 and needed a win from either its first doubles team or second doubles team. With the match coming down to the wire, first doubles, juniors Sammi Feldman and Jacey Stock, out-competed their opponents and won the match in the third set in at tie breaker; 4-6, 6-2, 7-6 (tiebreaker was 7-3). Lynbrook then travelled to face a very talented Bellmore team. Bakhashian had a huge 6-3, 6-1 victory, and the team came out on top winning 4-3. Lynbrook cruised past Long Beach on its annual “Senior Day” with an impressive 7-0 victory. Senior Haydan Bloomberg and junior Sammi Feldman had an amazing 8-1 victory.  The teams’ final match of the regular season was against a 6-6 Massapequa team. They had an incredible 5-2 victory, and Travis defeated her opponent 6-2, 6-0. This victory officially crowned the team conference champions (tied with Oceanside). This momentum was a great way to go into playoffs. The team travelled to Roslyn for its playoff match against a team that is two conferences higher. Players put in an amazing effort, but were defeated 7-0. The season might have ended on a lower-note, but that does not overshadow the amazing accomplishments of the team this past season.

This team is clearly a special one. It has talent at every age and every match is played as if it is the most important one. Bowes explained how “[the team] all meshed so well together. It was a common goal to come out on top in the conference.” While the team did it a lot, winning was not the top goal of the season. Bowes prioritizes making the girls into good people. She explained how she is “most excited about how athletes will feel at the end of the season.” Bowes adds, “ It is not always about winning; it is about making sure we feel good about ourselves.” After four years on the team, Bakhashian, “Felt the comradery [this year] as strong as I have all four years.” This comradery and teamwork is something that allowed the team to be as successful as they were. Freshman Ava Schwam, enjoyed her first season on the team, and loved “meeting upperclassmen and making new friends.” Bowes talked about the team’s future: “Having such a young team is only a snapshot of what is to come in the next seasons.”

With an amazing season behind them, there is a bright future ahead for the Lynbrook varsity tennis team. There is only one senior on the starting roster, so ten out of the eleven starters are returning next season. There is also a talented group of girls that will be freshmen next year. An incredible season was had, and this conference winning team has an amazingly bright future.