The Women’s tennis team is setting very high goals this season as it prepares for its most highly anticipated season yet. The team is hoping to win the Big Eight conference as well as a state championship.

The Rams are coming off an amazing playoff run, getting as far as Northern California regional semi-finals before falling to Modesto, which begs the question: can the Rams do it again? The Rams have made it one round deeper into the playoffs the past three seasons.

Chantel Wiggins, head coach for both men’s and women’s tennis teams, holds the same coaching standard for each team and has players work out and practice together, giving them strong team building and challenging each other to the best of their ability. “It can be a challenge,” Wiggins said. “There are 20 athletes to handle rather than 12 on one team, but with good assistants, it makes the process much easier.”

The Rams know that they have a tough season ahead of them, and in order for them to play to their maximum potential, they have to strengthen their game.

Practicing during the offseason helped them identify and analyze their weaknesses so they could improve them before the season starts.

“It would have to be my serves. Sometimes I have a hard time keeping them in play and even falling down in the process,” said Maria Ochoa, second year player. “I feel the more I work at it, the better I will be at it.”

The Rams are considered to be the heavy favorite to not only win the Big Eight Conference, but to have a deep run in the postseason.They are hoping to get as far as they can while avenging their postseason loss to Modesto last season.

“I don’t know what the other teams we will face look like, but based off of our game and how we are playing, I would say that we are the team to beat,” said Milah Ryland, first year player.

The Rams players and coaches say they know what they want out of this season — bring home a state championship.
“That is our ultimate goal,” Wiggins said. “Anything short is not reaching it.”