Girls’ tennis wraps up the season undefeated in league
The Samo girls’ tennis team ended their season on Nov. 7 in the second round of CIF playoffs, losing 4-14 to Canyon High School. For the second year in a row claiming the title of Ocean League Champions, this year with an undefeated record. Samo beat some of the toughest schools in the league such as Geffen Academy, where Samo won 15-3 and Buckley High School, 12-6. The Vikings’ final league match of the season against Beverly was a perfect match, with a score of 18-0. The girls’ success advanced them into the Division 3 CIF playoffs. Last year, the team got second in CIFs, so this year they went in with high expectations and hopes of beating last year’s record. Although the team lost they had an amazing season and the final match was emotional as it was the last game for the seniors. The seniors were a huge part of the team this season and helped them get to an amazing Ocean League finish. The players graduating this year are captains Rebecca Scholze (’26), Stella Callen (’26), Skye Triall (’26), Solonia Allen (’26), Elleri Klein (’26) and Gelila Mihret (’26). Scholze shared her favorite moment from this season.
“My favorite memory was when we all went to Canes after losing the second round of CIF,” Scholze said. “It was just a memorable moment for me because we had just lost and it was really heartbreaking because it was the seniors’ last match. It was a good opportunity for all of us to get one last time all together.”
Two of the team’s players, Ava Brara (’27) and Mila Humby (’29), competed as a doubles team in state doubles competitions. Brara shared what going to state means for her and how she got there.
“To get to states, we had to win a league tournament and then invitationals,” Brara said. “Mila and I could not have done it without our amazing doubles teams and some of the boys’ team helping us train. It was especially great considering that we went the farthest any Samo individual has ever gone in the history of our program.”
They ended up losing 5-7 and 2-6 against JSerra High School at the state competition. Humby shared her experience of the competition.
“It was really fun, me and my partner went together and we played a good match, it was really close,” Humby said. “After, we stayed and watched some of the matches. It was fun to see what I could be in two years. We were not expecting to do as well as we did so we were proud of ourselves and we had fun.”
At the start of the season, head coach Shaun Simone, who led the teams to CIF’s last year, stated that their goals were to win the Ocean League and to make it to CIFs. With an undefeated Ocean League record and a spot in CIF’s, it is safe to say that both those goals have been achieved.