![Phoenix gets in position to initiate the beginning of an intense game. “It's coming to the end of the season here, so [our goal] is to just focus on working harder,” senior lineman Ryan Abbondanza said.](https://theblazerrhs.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/DSC_0042-1200x800.jpg)
The Rock Ridge Phoenix boys tennis team scored another win this season in their Senior Night game against the Dominion High School Titans. Winning the match 9-0, the Phoenix improved their playoff chances.
This game for the Phoenix also celebrated the five seniors on the team and all of their accomplishments. The five seniors were Akash Vangala, Sathvik Mathi, Harsha Antham, Tyler Nguyen, and Sreeram Gourineni. “Senior Night is the one special day of the year where we can celebrate the seniors of four years, and I think it’s a great way to celebrate all the hard work they have done,” sophomore Abhinav Kandregula said.
For the Phoenix, the first to sixth seed was as follows: Vangala, sophomore Christian Bhide, Antham, Gourineni, Mathi, and Nguyen.
For singles, 1st seed Vangala won his game with a final score of 8-5. Both second and third seed Bhide and Antham also won their games with ease, with Bhide winning his match with a score of 8-0, and Antham won his match with a score of 8-1. “[Harsha’s] game went like normal, beating everybody… he’s always consistent, he never misses,” Kandregula said. Fourth seed Gourineni also took care of his matchup, ending in a final score of 8-1.
Mathi won his match at the 5th seed with a score of 8-2. “My score for singles was 8-2, and I think the game overall went pretty well,” Mathi said. “I was just able to finish up pretty quickly.”
The sixth seed Nguyen wasn’t entirely happy with his performance, but he still ended up winning his match with a score of 8-2. “I guess I could have put away points a little more, but overall, not bad,” Nguyen said. The Phoenix ended singles with a lead of 6-0 heading into their last three doubles matches for the night.
The first doubles team consisted of Vangala and Bhide, who won their doubles match, ending in a score of 8-1.
The second doubles team was played by Gourineni and Mathi, who felt like their matchup was pretty easy,
finishing with a final score of 8-1. “I think that it was a pretty easy match,” Mathi said. “We put away balls when we needed it.”
The last doubles match of the day was played by Antham and Nguyen, ending 8-0 in favor of the Phoenix.
The Phoenix finished the day with a record of 9-0 in high hopes of progressing to states and even winning the state championship. “I think we’re always the best team on the court,” Kandregula said. “I think this year we don’t want the season to end on a loss like last year, so we’re looking [to advance to] states and even [win] the state title.”
Mathi is confident in the team’s ability. “We were pretty dominant this year,” Mathi said. “I think we’re clearly the best in the district, and hopefully we take it all the way.”
The Phoenix Tennis team’s next match will be held at Heritage against the Pride on Tuesday, the 19th.
