Despite decimation from illness, the JV girls’ squad and a couple of contributors from the thirds team gave Williston’s varsity a thorough trouncing on the Wednesday afternoon before Long Winter Weekend. At #2, 9th-grader Talbot von Stade faced a talented opponent but triumphed in a set of interesting games, winning in three with scores of 11-9, 16-14, 11-6. At #4, playing up two spots, junior Isabella Geraci had one of the season’s rare bagels, winning in 4 (11-5, 11-0, 10-12, 11-7). Sophomore Helen Mak, also climbing the ladder to #6 (Mak usually plays around #10), had a great showing, winning in 3 even as her opponent gathered steam (11-6, 11-7, 11-9).
Retaking the #1 spot was senior captain Lilley Salmon, who held onto Williston’s #1 varsity player for a trio of tight games before ultimately losing (7-11, 9-11, 9-11). Sophomore Christina Li did her job at #3 in the absence of senior co-captain Carolina Conzelman, winning 12-10, a blistering 11-3, and then 11-8 for Deerfield’s fourth point overall, sealing the win for the day. Stepping up to #5 was junior Cameron Garner, who had a tough five-game match with her opponent. Garner traded games with her opponent and did a great job, despite eventually losing 2-3 (11-13, 11-8, 12-10, 7-11, 6-11). At #7 came sophomore Janis Chen, who worked hard to give Deerfield its fifth point of the day in a 3-1 win over her opponent (11-4, 12-10, 6-11, 11-9).
In exhibition, 9th grader Emma Johnson did a great job in her first competition of the season. Though she ultimately fell in three games, she showed perseverance and grit throughout her games and gave her opponent a good matchup (5-11, 5-11, 6-11). Joining the team from thirds and saving the day for JV’s numbers were sophomore Trish Boonpongmanee and ninth-grader Daisy Dundas, who were an astounding force to be reckoned with for Williston’s varsity players. Trish won 2-1 against her opponent (11-3, 7-11, 11-4), and Daisy had a great round with her counterpart, going 1106, 1-11, 8-11.
The team has only three matches left, including two of its historically toughest opponents, Exeter and Choate. Can JV hold onto its undefeated record? Only time will tell — luckily both of the latter matches are at home, and the girls would love fans as they seal their fate in the next week!