Turlock Christian and Delhi high school tennis teams met on Brenda Athletic Club’s courts in Turlock on Thursday. The Eagles entered their meeting against the formidable Hawks knowing full well their incomplete squad wouldn’t win the team match. Despite the circumstances, TC pressed forward; playing for the pride of competition and self improvement.

“They know since we don’t have a full team that we can’t win a match,” TC’s head coach Vanesa Reibstein said. “They don’t have high expectations on winning right now, but they do have high expectations when it comes to their performance.”

TC’s number one and two girls singles players, Savannah Swanson and Brenna Visaraga, played up to their personal expectations as they squared off against and defeated Delhi’s number one and two singles players, Beatriz Amador and Vanesa Ramos.

Swanson’s match started out smoothly as she won the first set 6-3. In the second set Swanson found herself down 5-2 against Amador, but she refused to give up. The Eagle dug deep and won five straight games for a 7-5 comeback win.

“It was very impressive,” Reibstein said.

Visaraga also battled through adversity for her victory. Delhi’s Ramos dominated the first set 6-1 before Visarage responded with a 6-4 victory in the second. The third set was close as the two girls went back and forth, but Ramos faltered in the later games resulting in a 6-3 Visaraga win.

Swanson’s and Visaraga’s matches were TC’s sole victories as Delhi swept the girls and boys doubles matches. TC did not have enough boy players for singles matches.