The Poland Girls Tennis Team has been reigning conference champions for seven years, and they are looking to continue the success. Poland’s tennis has been a hidden strong point in our athletics for many years. Led by Coach Jimmy Leslie, they are 9-2 overall on the season and 5-1 in the conference. Junior leaders, Lucienne Hopps and Carmela Guzman have contributed to the team’s success this year. 

“We are 5-1 overall in the NE8 conference, and I think we are doing well enough, but not the best we can,” said Guzman. 

 Poland’s top rival in the league this year is Struthers, and they are the only team that has beaten them in the conference. When it comes to personal records, these two are excelling, with Guzman being 7-2 and Hopps being a powerful 9-0. Individually, they both have experiences difficult out of conference competitors.

 “My most exciting match was against Austintown Fitch. We won the first set 6-3 but had a setback in the second set.  We went into a tiebreaker, and then crushed them,” Guzman explained. 

Boardman is also another tough out of conference match for the girls.

 Hopps said, “My most exciting match was definitely playing Boardman’s number one. It went to three sets. She was very good, and I had to work very hard mentally and physically.”

 They have explained they are both looking to advance past sectionals this year as well. 

Not only do these two have an impressive record, but they have also stepped up into leadership roles on the team. They are both in the junior class, making them upperclassmen on the team. Hopps explains that the team’s chemistry mostly depends on them.

Hoops said, “I feel like as upperclassmen now we have to step up and fill the role of the previous upperclassmen. I feel it’s really important to me and Carmela that we step up and bond with the younger kids to have better team chemistry.”

Speaking for both of them, Hopps explained that getting the younger girls involved really helps improve the team.

The team will face their biggest rival, Struthers, next week for the conference. Best of luck to them the rest of the season!