![Junior Alex Alkhal pitches the ball. “[I] just let it go and keep practicing so we can focus on our goal for the next game to get better as a team,” Alkhal said.](https://theblazerrhs.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/DSC_0013-1-1200x929.jpg)
![The Phoenix varsity volleyball team lines up for the national anthem. “We were more communicative [with each other] during this game, and I feel like we kept our energy up, especially after the first set,” senior Jessica Valdov said.](https://theblazerrhs.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/DSC_0202-1200x800.jpg)
The Rock Ridge Phoenix Boys Tennis team scored another win this season in their game against Dominion High School, with a final score of 8-1 in spite of their top two seed players not playing.
Due to the absence of their first and second seeds, freshman Christian Bhide was moved up to seed one, and junior Harsha Antham was moved up to seed two. Freshman Noah Vizzi was the third seed, with junior Sathvik Mathi playing seed four, and freshman Abhinav Kandregula being the fifth seed. Freshman Karthik Uppalapati debuted at seed six. “I have been playing tennis outside of school for three years,” Uppalapati said. “Currently, I am [in] the ninth [standing for the Rock Ridge Tennis team].”
For singles, both Bhide and Antham won their games. Vizzi and Kandregula also won their matches as well, with scores of 8-1 for Vizzi, and 8-5 for Kandregula. “My singles and doubles that day were good, I won both my matches comfortably,” Vizzi said. Uppalapati lost with a score of 8-3, despite his best efforts.
As for doubles, the top teams consisted of Bhide and Antham, Vizzi and Mathi, followed by Uppalapati and Kandregula. Bhide and Antham won their match. Vizzi and Mathi also reigned victorious, with a score of 8-3, and Uppalapati and Kandregula managed a win as well, with a solid score of 8-0.
The team has high hopes of progressing to states, for now focusing on strengthening their plays in order to make this goal a reality. “The playoffs are around the corner, and I know every team that we play from here on is no joke and we have to be locked in,” Kandregula said. “I don’t want to get ahead of myself and already talk about states, because getting to states is not an easy task, but I certainly think we are a team that is 100% capable of doing so.” Vizzi also shares similar viewpoints as his teammate. “Our plan for states is just going in each match with confidence and playing our game. We have a good chance of going to states,” Vizzi observed.
The team’s next match will be the District Finals on Thurs. May 22, with the location of the match yet to be determined.
