Baldwin tennis team aims to claw its way to Inter-Ac title

Bryn Mawr >> The past couple of years, the Baldwin School tennis team has come oh-so-close in its quest to dethrone Episcopal Academy for the Inter-Ac title.
Last fall, the two teams engaged in a match that could only be described as an instant classic. With the match tied at 3-3 and sunlight quickly fading to darkness, all of the attention turned to the fourth doubles match.
In the end, it was Episcopal senior Mackenzie Lee finding the open spot on a half-volley for the final point of a 6-4, 7-5 straight set win in a match that lasted nearly two hours to clinch a 4-3 victory and the second straight Inter-Ac title for EA.
“Even though we lost a tough match to EA [at the end of last season] I am really excited for the upcoming year,” said Baldwin’s Jeff Sacks, entering his 13th year as head coach. “I feel that we have strong leadership that will really help our younger players.”
“Coming so close these past few years shows me that we have to work even harder this year,” said Baldwin senior Torrie Smith. “I am excited for what this team has in store. I love competition almost as much as I love winning and clinching the Inter-Ac title would be a great way to culminate my Baldwin tennis career.”
Returning their top three singles players, senior Torrie Smith, sophomore Izzy Antanavicius and junior co-captain Presley Daggett, the Polar Bears are poised to claw their way to the top.
The main ingredient for their recipe of success will be teamwork. In a sport viewed as mostly individual, the team aspect of tennis is having each match count the same no matter the spot on the ladder.
“Being part of the tennis team has, without a doubt, been one of my favorites experiences at Baldwin,” said Daggett. “Over the years I’ve watched past captains work with Coach Sacks to help the team grow together as players and people. Under Coach Sacks’ leadership, we’ve created a really close-knit team, that has me hopeful and excited for each season.”
Smith added, “As a co-captain you want to make sure that everyone stays until the end of the matches. Even though one may be done their individual match, no one is finished until the players in the last match walk off the court. It always helps me to have my teammates cheering for me after each point, whether the result was positive or negative. I believe that this is what helps a player or a doubles team come out on top while playing a tight match. I think our support for one another separates us from other teams.”
Playing a format that consists of three singles matches and four doubles matches, one sign of a good team is leadership bringing everyone together as one and seeing a different player step up each match.
“As co-captain it’s important to pay attention to all the players and make sure their getting the most out of practice while also having fun,” said Daggett. “Our team makes a point of having pre-season and post-season dinners or parties to get excited for the year or to recognize our accomplishments. We also make sure to incorporate other team bonding activity, such as our trip to the U.S. Open and match day lunches to keep the team excited.”
While the Baldwin players help bring the team together off the court to ensure on-court chemistry, the challenge to the coaching staff of Sacks and his wife Roni is forming the right doubles teams that they hope will help propel Baldwin towards the Inter-Ac title that has eluded them the past two years. Roni, who is entering her 10th year with the program, recently was named the first ever commissioner of the Inter-Ac JV,
“Coupled with six new varsity players we have three talented and experienced singles players,” Jeff Sacks said. “Finding the Doubles team to win that fourth decisive match will be this year’s challenge.”