The Westport girls tennis team is yet to win a match, but the young team is gaining experience and that bolds well for the future. 

“With the exception of my first singles player, Taliyah Raiche, everyone is playing varsity tennis for the first time,” said Wildcats head coach Matt Kampper. “We’re young. We learning and getting better every day. Every point, game and set they win, it’s a growing process. It’s going to make us better towards the end of the season, going into next year and after that.” 

The team graduated six starters and Raiche, a junior who has been on the team since eighth grade, is the lone starter from last season. 

“Taliyah is athletic. A really good player. She played second singles last year,” Coach Kampper said. “She’s had to step it up this season. Play the other team’s best player and have more responsibility as the team captain and she’s handled it really well so far.” 

Maddy Melnyk, a sophomore, plays second singles. She scored 18 goals for the field hockey team last fall and is in her second year on the tennis team. 

“It’s really fun,” she said. “It helps me stay in shape and I feel like I have definitely improved from last year. Tennis is more stressful than field hockey. It’s a different mindset.” 

Avery Pereira plays third singles, Audrey Xavier and Kaelyn Butter play first doubles, Jacky Jusseaume and Juliette Evans play second doubles. 

The team is currently looking for their first win at 0-6 having lost to Somerset Berkley Regional, Dartmouth and Durfee last week. Coach Kampper at this stage is looking for improvement at all levels. 

“Representing the team, representing the school, representing the community in the right way,” he said.  They are doing a great job. We might lose a match 0-5 but They're not giving up. They're not giving in. They're fighting all the way to the last point. I'm proud of them. And again, all like the kind of the lumps we take this year will make us better next year and the year after that.”