Deerfield’s varsity tennis squad took to the courts for the first match of the 2026 season on Saturday. Visiting Groton brought a sharp, well-prepared roster. It was a cool afternoon with rain threatening but, thankfully, never materializing.
Doubles play went Groton’s way at the top two spots, though Deerfield’s first and second pairs showed flashes of strong chemistry before finding their rhythm a bit too late. At third doubles, Chloe Hernandez and Grace Lodge set the tone immediately. Playing their first match together, they combined steady execution with smart positioning to pull away early and secure a convincing win—an encouraging debut for the new pairing.
Singles play featured several competitive matchups. Chloe Schiff made her debut at number one and delivered a dominant win, overwhelming her opponent with power and control from the outset. Blake Coleman added a hard-earned point at number five with disciplined, thoughtful play, while Grace Lodge capped an impressive day with her second win, this time at number six. Travis Gerst showed resilience at number four, rebounding from a first-set loss to take the second and push the match to a deciding tiebreak.
Deerfield is back on the courts for another home match on Wednesday with Westminster at 3:30.
Individual Results:
Doubles:
- Chloe Schiff/ Jeanne Mei Larouche, L 3-8
- Travis Gerst/ Blake Coleman, L 3-8
- Chloe Hernandez/ Grace Lodge, W 8-2
Order of Finish: 3, 1, 2
Singles:
- Chloe Schiff: W 6-1, 6-2
- Jeanne Mei Larouche: L 1-6, 2-6
- Chloe Hernandez: L 2-6, 3-6
- Travis Gerst: L 2-6, 6-1, 4-10
- Blake Coleman: W 6-4, 6-3
- Grace Lodge: W 6-1, 6-0
Order of Finish: 6, 2, 3, 1, 5, 4