List of 9 news stories.

• Tuxedo Park Prevails

  11/20/2015
  In our last match of the season, the DE tennis team played Tuxedo Park. It was a spectacular fall day -- unseasonably warm at over 70 degrees! In this last match, we celebrated our eighth graders. Many of these girls have been on the team for three consecutive years.

  
  

  Tuxedo Park brought a strong line-up composed of 9 boys and 1 girl. Our team was not daunted by this challenge. That was especially the case for eighth grader India who was matched up against a strong first singles opponent with a massive serve. Even though she lost 8-0, she explained she’d rather have a good match and lose then play a weak opponent and win easily. We love that go-get-’em attitude!

  
  

  At second singles, Jackie fought hard against another excellent player. While she lost 8-4, she worked her way back into the match repeatedly. In these comebacks, we saw great determination and focus.

  
  

  At third singles, Sloan’s opponent was equally comfortable at the baseline. They had many long rallies, and both players focused on moving each other around the court. While Sloan lost 8-2, the match felt a lot closer. Many games went to deuce repeatedly.

  
  

  At first doubles, Abby and Arianna (seventh grade) teamed up in their first doubles match together. They lost 8-3, but they also challenged their opponents throughout the match. They never gave up, which is equally important!

  
  

  At second doubles, Helen and Maggie were successful in winning a match for the team. Their 8-5 victory was the result of steady play and focus. We were glad to get one win in our starting 5 matches!

  
  

  All of these 8th graders (including Grace, who was out due to injury) have been a wonderful asset to our team this year. We were fortunate to have such a solid group of girls at the helm of our team. They lead by example, included new players, encouraged their teammates, and always made sure we had a lot of fun too. They will be missed next year!

  
  

  We had success in the exhibition matches as well. Anna and Ellie won their doubles match, as did Alexa. The seventh graders on the team are eager to step up into the leadership role next year.

• Bulldogs Lose To Trinty

  11/1/2015
  On Thursday, October 29th, DE took on Trinity for the second time this season. While the Bulldogs lost the match 5-0, everyone gave their best and there was a lot of fight across every court!

  
  

  Jackie played a solid first singles player who liked to rip forehands and forehand returns. When Jackie went down at the start of the match, she regrouped and dug in to fight. She won the next game, but eventually lost 8-2.

  
  

  At second singles, India was unfazed by her opponent’s big serve and fast-paced forehands. She kept making her opponent hit one more, using her consistency to force errors. Despite an 8-5 loss, India was in the match the whole time.

  
  

  Alexa played her second official singles match at third singles. Her match was full of long rallies, and she effectively lobbed over her opponent to win key points in the wind. Despite an 8-4 loss, she has a lot to be proud of. The team will need her as a singles player next year!

  
  

  Eighth graders Sloan and Grace enjoyed playing their first official match together. They were up against two solid players. One girl frequently utilized her massive serve. Sloan and India were unfazed when they went down early in the match, and they eventually brought their opponents to 6-6. Despite losing the next game, they had a lot to be proud of in their 8-6 match.

  
  

  At second doubles, seventh graders Arianna and Ellie played their first official match together. They were up against another tough opponent. They went up 2-0 in the beginning of the match, but eventually lost 8-3.

  
  

  Many girls played exhibition matches, including the rest of our seventh and eighth graders. Some girls even decided to play again. We love that spirit!

  
  We have our last match on Wednesday vs. Tuxedo Park.

• Determined Bulldogs Beat Montclair-Kimberley

  11/1/2015
  DE beats MKA 3-2

  
  

  After a great match a few weeks ago, DE faced MKA again, this time on our home courts. Eager to play singles against the strong competition, the girls were pumped for the match from the start of our warmups.

  
  

  The singles matches were incredibly exciting; all three opponents were well-matched. At first singles, Arianna proved once again how she never gives up in a match. She played against a strong opponent who forced Arianna to hit solid, offensive approach shots and put-aways. Both girls held the lead at different times, and when Arianna went down in the middle of the match, we saw her trademark fist pump when she started her comeback. In the end, she lost 8-5, but she had a lot to be proud of!

  
  

  At third singles, Sloan took an early lead against her opponent. She also stayed true to her strength --- long rallies! When we looked over at her match, she frequently played points with 10, 15, sometimes even 20 shots at a time! We were tired just watching her! Her steady baseline game gave her an early lead. Her opponent then picked up some steam towards the end, staging a comeback, but Sloan held on to win 8-6.

  
  

  At first doubles, India and Jackie played as they described “one of the best matches of the season.” While they lost 8-2, both girls were extremely proud of how they stuck with it, how they smiled even when they were down, and how the hit some great offensive shots. We love that fighting spirit!

  
  

  At second doubles, sixth grade duo Brianna and Franki looked confident from the beginning. After going down a break at the start, they regrouped and never looked back. They won 8-2.

  
  

  At this point, the match was tied 2-2. We had three exhibition matches going on. Anna and Alexa played really well together, especially against some strong opponents. In their first official match together, the two girls won 6-4. Ellie and Maggie had a tough match, but battled anyway, despite their 6-2 loss. Abby, Helen, and Hyeri joined forces with a player from MKA to play doubles, and their match was unfortunately cut short due to an injury and darkness.

  
  

  So, with the exhibition matches happening and other matches winding down, attention turned to second singles, where Grace was playing another epically close match. It reminded us of her match a few weeks ago at SRD. She went down 0-3 at the start, fought back to 2-3, went down 2-4, took a lead in the middle, and as the other matches wrapped up, she was fighting another battle at 7-7. Grace won that game, going up 8-7, but her opponent wasn’t done yet! They had a few great points, bringing the game to deuce. Grace took a deep breath, made her opponent move on the court, and in the end, she won 9-7!

  
  

  This individual win clinched a team victory of 3-2. It also brought our season record to 5-2. Go Bulldogs!

• Even With The Loss, The Bulldogs Played With Pride

  10/19/2015
  The girls tennis team travelled to Monclair Kimberly Academy (MKA) on Friday afternoon. In our first match that really felt like fall, the girls tried to warm up on a cool afternoon. Regardless, the players were still full of energy and vigor, and the players battled as they usually do!

  
  

  As “home” coaches determine the format, we played seven doubles matches. MKA has a large team, and they spend a lot of time practicing doubles fundamentals. This was clear on every court, and it was a good chance for our ladies to experience quality doubles play. That is important!

  
  

  A big shout out to eighth graders Jackie Goldstein and Grace Maline who fought back against two powerful opponents. They were down early, but they never gave up. They won key points with effective lobbying, and they should be quite proud of their 8-5 loss.

  
  

  Our next four doubles matches were great learning experiences. Arianna and Arianna landed at 8-2, Sloan and India also had an 8-2 score, Franki and Brianna finished at 8-1, and Ellie and Anna kept things consistent with a score of 8-2. Despite these matches being losses on the scoreboard, the coaches were so proud of how every player kept with it until the very last point on each court.

  
  

  Eighth graders Maggie and Abby earned the team’s first decisive victory, winning 6-0 at sixth doubles. They were focused and determined on the court, and the match was over before their opponents knew what hit them. Good job, ladies!

  
  

  The highlight of the match took place at seventh doubles. Eighth grader Helen played with seventh grader Elizabeth Her in her first official match of the season. They were still playing when the sun started to set. Tied up at 6-6, they began a tiebreaker with both teams cheering on their respective teammates. DE took the lead early, and in the end they clinched a victory, 7-6. We all cheered with both girls ran off the court in celebration, and it was clear the girls were proud of each other (and we were proud of them!)! It was a lovely sight to see.

• Bulldog Tennis At 4-1 With Victory Over Saddle River

  10/16/2015
  The DE Middle School tennis team played an exciting match against Saddle River Day School yesterday. The Bulldogs kept it exciting right until the very end!

  
  

  At first singles, Arianna Lee played a strong opponent with a steady serve and solid groundstrokes. The highlight of the match happened when she was down 7-2. While some players might have thrown in the towel, Ariella didn’t give up. When she broke her opponent’s serve at 7-3, we all heard a loud “Come on!” and we knew Ariella still had some fight left. She fought back to 8-5, which is a victory in itself!

  
  

  At third singles, India Marseille continued to dominate. She won convincingly, 8-2, and looked confident on the court. She pressured her opponent on her groundstrokes and made her move around the court in pursuit of the ball in every point.

  
  

  At second doubles, sixth grader Franki Gallo was paired with eighth grader Helen Li in her first official match. They played consistently, especially with their groundstrokes, and they also won, 8-1.

  
  

  At this point in the match, DE was up 2-1. The team needs three matches to win, and both second singles and first doubles were tied at 6-6 when the other three matches wrapped up. Everyone was cheering and watching both matches, and excitement was palpable! At first doubles, the seventh grade duo of Ellie Chung and Anna Hwang played their first official match of the year. They were neck in neck with their opponents, and all four girls were quite evenly matched. In exciting fashion, the girls won two games in a row, clinching their win 8-6 and also clinching the team win too! Hooray!

  
  

  But, the excitement wasn’t over quite yet. At second singles, Grace Maline played a super consistent player. Her opponent's main objective was to keep making Grace hit just ONE more shot. They played endless rallies, some of them over 15 or 20 shots! When they were tied 7-7, the whole team was down at the court, watching and cheering. Grace broke her opponent, going up 8-7, and then was on the service line serving for the match. Her confidence soared, and she hit winner after winner to seal the victory at 9-7! It was so exciting!

  
  

  In exhibition singles, eighth graders Maggie Colquitt and Abby Park both played singles matches, and they both were victorious with a score of 8-1. They battled against tough sun, looking sharp in their sunglasses!

  
  In the end, the team won 4-1, and our record improved to 4-1 as well. Today, we play MKA at 4:00pm.

• Girls Tennis Prevails In Close Contest

  10/14/2015
  The DE Girls Middle School team returned to Elizabeth Morrow yesterday in our second match of the season. While we were confident after our 4-1 win a few weeks ago, we knew that the teams were evenly matched. On another perfect fall day, this time with the sun a bit lower in the sky (therefore making serving a bit more difficult), the girls eagerly walked on the court for their matches.

  
  

  EMS has a solid, deep singles line-up. Their players understand how to move the ball around the court, and they are especially confident on the har-tru surface. At first singles, Jackie Goldstein had a close match with her opponent. Her opponent took a lead late in the match, causing her to win 8-5, but Jackie was tough in every point. Her serves looked particularly strong. At third doubles, seventh grader Alexa Tiflinsky had her singles debut. She moved the ball around, especially capitalizing on her fierce forehand. While she also lost 8-5, it was a great showing in the singles line-up. Lastly, eighth grader Sloan Charles continues to be a force at singles. She was strong throughout her match, playing steady and consistent against her opponent. She won convincingly, 8-2.

  
  

  At first doubles, eighth graders India Marseille and Grace Maline were solid from the start. They worked on their communication, especially on high lobs, and also won in a straightforward match, 8-2. They have both become steady doubles players this season!

  
  

  So, as the sun began to set on the courts, our team was tied up, 2-2. Attention turned to our second doubles team -- sixth graders Brianna Sorkin and Franki Gallo. They were on serve for the majority of our match, and when the other matches wrapped up, they were at 6-6. The two girls were communicating regularly between points, and Brianna was aggressive at net, poaching whenever possible. Hooray! They broke their opponent to go up 7-6, and then Franki didn’t buckle under the pressure. She served to hold and win the match, 8-6! As a result, the team won 3-2. Go Bulldogs!

   

  Our three exhibition matches were also a lot of fun to watch, and the girls overpowered their opponents on all three courts. Seventh graders Ellie Chung and Anna Hwang won 8-2, eighth graders Maggie Colquitt and Helen Li also won 8-3, and eighth grader Abby Park played with sixth grader Hyeri Chun (also playing her first full match!), and they also won 8-5.

  
  

  It was a great match all around. The team travels to play Saddle River Day (SRD) on Thursday and then Monclair Kimberley Academy (MKA) on Friday.

• Bulldogs Snare the Bears of Tuxedo Park

  10/9/2015
  DE traveled to Tuxedo Park on Wednesday, October 7. We played on a beautiful lake, and we couldn’t help but notice the gorgeous fall foliage at sunset! What perfect weather for a tennis match.

  
  

  Due to some last minute scheduling, we decided to play 7 “official” matches, and in the end, DE was victorious with a 4-3 match record! This team was co-ed, and our ladies brought their “A” game!

  
  

  Jackie Goldstein and Grace Maline played first and second singles, respectively. While both girls lost against very strong opponents, they fought and clawed for every point they could. They battled back against big serves and lots of topspin. Their scores were 8-0 and 8-2. They both have a lot to be proud of!

  
  

  At third singles, sixth grader Brianna Sorkin made her singles debut. She was on serve at first, and after conferencing at 4-3, she changed sides of the court confidently. She took off from there, and clinched an 8-4 victory. Go Brianna!

  
  

  Alexa Tifllinksy and Arianna Lee were a dominant doubles pair. They moved well on the court together, and I loved their aggression at net. This is a pair we will definitely try again! They won convincingly, 8-4.

  
  

  Sloan Charles and India Marseille played an awesome doubles match against two Tuxedo Park singles players. Their opponents had big serves and lots of power at net. The girls matched their power, and they were not intimidated by their opponent’s early lead. They came back after being down 5-2, but in the end, they lost 8-6. Good fight, ladies!

  
  

  Franki Gallo and Maggie Colquitt also played a great match together. They were tenacious at net, and they forced their opponents to make errors. They also had great communication at net. This solid play together resulted in another 8-4 victory.

  
  

  Helen also played her first official singles match. While she was a bit hesitant at first, it was clear that she didn’t need to be! She patiently worked through the match, even occasionally helping her opponent. She won decisively, 8- 0.

• Trinity Prevails In Close Contest

  10/6/2015
  The MS girls tennis team had their home opener today against a strong Trinity team. On a perfect fall day, the girls took the court excited to play and with an extra pep in their step!

  
  

  Highlights included India Marseille’s first singles victory at third singles. She battled in every point, looking especially confident with her groundstrokes. When approached at 7-4, she said her goal was to “breathe” for the last game, and she did just that. Calm under pressure, she closed the game out to win 8-4.

  
  

  Our second highlight included a tight nail-biter at first doubles. Eighth graders Jackie Goldstein and Grace Maline won 8-7 (7-5). After taking a convincing lead to start the match, their opponents started their comeback. The girls stuck it out until the end and won in the first official tie-breaker of the season! Grace was especially dominant at net, and Jackie kept steady with her serves.

  
  

  At second singles, Sloan Charles also made her singles debut. Everyone was impressed with her dominant play from the baseline. She stuck in every single point, some of them going for more than 20 shots! While she lost 8-4, she was a true Bulldog fighter today!

  
  

  Arianna Lee took on a dominant first singles player. While she lost, it was a great learning experience. Everyone has “off” days, even Serena Williams! She rallied and joined Elizabeth Her, also in seventh grade, to win an exhibition match 5 - 2.

  
  

  Seventh graders Ellie Chung and Anna Hwang played in their first official start. They were proud of their serves and groundstrokes. While they lost 8-2, they looked great out there! A big shout out to Abby, Alexa, Maggie, and Helen for their playing today. We saw some awesome doubles points out there!

  
  

  In the end, the team lost a close match 3-2. We already look forward to our next match against them on October 29th!

  
  Our next match is tomorrow vs. Tuxedo Park.

• Bulldog Girls' Tennis Opens With Victory

  9/29/2015
  The DE Middle School Girls tennis team traveled to the Englewood Field House today to play Elizabeth Morrow in our season opener. We were able to squeeze in the match before a rainstorm, and we are glad we did! The team won a convincing first match, 4 - 1.

  
  

  At first singles, 8th grader Jackie Goldstein looked steady in her first singles match of the season. She was well matched with her opponent, and they had many long rallies on the har-tru surface. Once she got her rhythm, the match went quickly. She won 8 - 5.

  
  

  At second singles, 7th grader Ariana Lee played in her first DE match. We are so happy she joined the DE community this year! She quickly settled into her match, and she looked steady throughout the match. Her aggressive groundstrokes paid off and she won 8 - 0.

  
  

  At third singles, 8th grader Grace Maline also had many great baseline rallies. She figured out her opponent’s style and kept pushing her back towards the baseline. She patiently played her game and also won, 8 - 4.

  
  

  At doubles, our line-up was anchored by eighth grade veterans Sloan Charles and India Marseille. They confidently walked on the court and took an early lead. They remained unflustered when their opponent attempted a comeback, and they also won 8 - 5.

  
  

  At second doubles, sixth grader Brianna Sorkin and seventh grade Alexa Tiflinksy played in their first match together. Fresh from a day of doubles practice at Johnson Park, they were aggressive at net and serving well. They battled on the court, and despite a 4-8 loss, they played a great match!

  
  

  Our first doubles exhibition match was played by sixth grader Franki Gallo and eighth grader Abby Park. They were fighters on the court, and even more importantly, they had a lot of fun playing together! They also won 8 - 3. The remainder of the team also got some exhibition play before the match wrapped up. Everyone approached this opportunity with a positive attitude and a great game “face!”

  
  

  Our season continues with two matches next week -- Tuesday vs. Trinity at home and Wednesday at Tuxedo Park. Come cheer on the Bulldogs!