MSMS kicked off its tennis season on Tuesday, Feb. 27 in a home match against Winona High School.

The match concluded in a 5-2 victory for the Blue Waves.

The match took place on the tennis courts located on the campus of the Mississippi University for Women.

“It was a gorgeous day to play tennis, and the team did great for our first match. We have a bunch of new players, including me, that won their matches, and it shows the hard work we’ve been putting in. I’m really proud of all the juniors that came out, especially Sam Anderson. She played singles against the number one girl in the state and put up a tough fight,” senior Kendall Wells said.

Senior Jim Zhang, another newcomer to tennis said, “I really enjoyed playing yesterday. It was my first tennis match, and it definitely made me excited to play more.”

The team showcases a range of experience in its players. Junior Kiera “KeKe Monroe,” for example, is entering her fourth season.

“This is my fourth year playing tennis, and yesterday was exciting. I didn’t play a full match yesterday, but I did get to play against two beginner boys. They were really sweet, and I enjoyed playing with my partner, Josh. Watching all three of them play and build their tennis confidence was amazing. I’m proud of the team and can’t wait to compete against more competition and win state,” Monroe said.

Because of MSMS’s victory as last year’s MHSAA 3A State Champions, the excitement for this season is obvious.