The girls varsity table tennis team currently has a standing of 5-3 in Queens Division II. On Thursday, the team lost 3-2 against Francis Lewis High School, one of its toughest competitors. The team is now in third place in its division, below the second place Francis Lewis and the undefeated first place Cardozo High School team.
“The game against Francis Lewis was very competitive…Everyone put up a good fight, most leading to the fifth set,” junior manager Tristan Zeng said.
After reflecting on the game, sophomore Shu You Zheng said, “The most important moment during the difficult game for me was when we were in our fourth set. We got in our minds too much, causing us to make a lot of mistakes, but we did finish off strong…when our coach gave us a talk about what we should improve on.”
Despite the loss against Francis Lewis, the team has shown strong performances in other games, sweeping five opponents this season with 5-0 victories. Junior captain Morgan Ma emphasized the mindset behind these successes. “Stay patient, keep practicing, and never give up on a point because anything can happen in a match. Confidence and consistency are just as important as skill.”
“Though we’ve had a couple of losses, we don’t let it affect us in our dynamic, and I’m so proud of every one of us,” junior Hitarthi Bhatt said. The team takes pride in its “good sense of community” and how they “welcome everyone in.”
That supportive environment is something Shu You also mentioned. “Everyone gives great advice and helps each other improve,” she said.
Beyond encouragement, the players also value the team’s competitive nature and drive to better their performance. Morgan said, “I love the competitive atmosphere and the challenge of improving each match.”
Coach Kevin Lau also highlights how the team shares a balance of chemistry, attitude, and technique. “Everything complements each other very well, so I think [there is] a very nice dynamic this season.”
Coach Lau said that what he enjoys most about coaching is sharing his expertise and experience as a table tennis player with the team. Alongside Coach John Tsai, they aim to help the team continue training and improving.
This year, they brought in an outside coach to provide specialized instruction and additional support. Coach Lau said, “I brought on a coach that works with the All-Youth American Table Tennis Association, and I just love seeing the growth and the improvement coming from the girls.”
“It is a good experience and opportunity that Coach Lau has set for us,” Morgan Ma said. “Coach Jimmy Deng offers outside insight into how we can improve that we may have missed previously.”
With one more week until the end of the regular season, the coaches plan to continue pushing their players and aim at advancing to the playoffs. “We’re hopeful that we may turn the tides this year,” Coach Lau said.
