The Juan Diego Catholic High School girls tennis team returned nearly its entire team of 30 girls from last season and that depth proved invaluable in helping the Soaring Eagle squad tied for third place in Region 14 Sept. 26. 

Senior Piper Maxwell stepped in to play No. 1 singles after senior Jazmin Asmar had a late season-ending ankle injury along with other movement through much of the varsity lineup— including the team’s top singles player Isabel Hopkins playing doubles with Skyline transfer Lauren Foy—heading into the postseason.

The senior duo of Hopkins/Foy finished second at No. 2 doubles with senior Hannah Bradshaw/sophomore Quincy Kegel taking third at No. 1 doubles. Junior Keira Ahearn was sixth at No. 2 singles with senior Maria Cadena coming in sixth at No. 3 singles.

“The girls played very well,” said head coach Peter Matus. “We try to inspire them to go out there on the court and give 100% every match so they can look back and be proud of their play, win or lose. We have a great team and we are very excited for state.”

The first round of the 3A state tournament is scheduled for Sept. 30 at North Sanpete High School with the final rounds Oct. 6-7 at Liberty Park.

Coach Matus, who is in his third year, has been working with assistant coach Heather Foy to help build the JDCHS program and their efforts are proving fruitful with the number of players being attracted to the team and being retained from year to year.

“I would like to chalk it up to the outstanding reputation we have put into place,” he said. “Heather is a great player and a great coach. With the two of us at the helm, the sky is the limit. The school is very supportive so we all make a great team. She has really taken over when I can’t be there and is doing an amazing job.” 

The Juan Diego girls put time in over the summer to improve their individual games, according to Matus, with the hope of making a run at state. “The girls were all very excited to return to the team and play even better,” he said. “We have some great players that have a lot of potential. We are at it one day at a time with our goal of giving 100% and leaving it all on the court, win or lose. Walking off that court at the end of the match and holding your head up high, knowing you had fun and tried your best is all we ask for.”

During the regular season, the Soaring Eagle squad beat American Preparatory Academy 5-0, Maeser Prep 3-2, Providence Hall 5-0 and American Heritage 3-2 while losing to Judge Memorial and Rowland Hall. They also finished ninth at the Spanish Fork Invitational in mid-September.

Also on the JCHS squad this season are Ana Alvarez, Maria Alvarez, Ava Clark, Angelica Copado, Debbie Cutler, Avery Johnston, Hadleigh Johnston, Sophia Lentz, Brisa Lucero, Sydney Maser, Piper Maxwell, Nicole Morgan, Madison Pickers, Megan Selmer, Christina Shively, Devon Sliwa, Marlo Trewitt and Alexa Vonderohe.

“There are a lot of talented girls on this team and we are building this program as best we can,” Matus said. “The girls are all playing well, practicing hard and the results are starting to show. We are very proud of all of them.”λ