HSE’s girls’ tennis officially began its season after finalizing a roster in the last few weeks of March. However, before any matches could be played, Spring Break swooped in, interrupting the team’s early season momentum. While a break this early in the season could slow progress, the team made a clear effort to stay sharp and maintain their habits.

The work didn’t stop for HSE girls’ tennis. For sophomore Ella Tappendorf, Spring Break was just a brief pause in the constant effort required of her. For four days, Ella visited her sister studying abroad in Madrid, Spain, but once she returned, she quickly got back on the court.

“During break I was still able to practice, but not as much as I would’ve liked since I was in Spain,” Ella said. “However, as soon as I got back, I was able to start practicing again and working on my shots.” She added that she and her teammates make the most of every practice, especially when there are no matches, using that time to build consistency.

For the remainder of week, Ella worked hard with her dad to ensure that she wouldn’t return to the season worse than she had been prior to break. “I made sure to stay consistent with practice for the rest of the break,” Ella recalled. 

Ella’s effort reflects a larger mindset across the team, as players continue to put in work even when the schedule slows down.