Although the Golden League season ended for the Quartz Hill Rebels boys’ tennis team, many were looking forward to this year’s CIF playoffs. Since the team had only a few seniors, the sophomore and junior classes took a hold of the team when the playoffs rolled around. One of these very valuable sophomores was Isaac Kim, who has gone nearly undefeated in the 2016-17 season. Other notable players included Westin Allen and Michael Ruddy, who constitute the number one varsity doubles team.

The intensity the Rebels showed during their practices made them seem like a force to be reckoned with in the 2017 Southern Section CIF playoffs.

In the season playoff opener here at Quartz Hill, the boys’ tennis team faced off against El Toro. However, many members of the Rebels boys’ tennis team failed to show up, which put them at a disadvantage. Ultimately, the Rebels fell against El Toro in a close match with the final score of 8-10. Isaac Kim, a varsity singles tennis player, and many of the other players were disappointed to see the season close with a playoff loss.

After the season ended, Isaac Kim stated, “I am very disappointed that our season came to end this way. I expected us to make it very far this year, but we did not, and now, all we can do is look to next year. I wish we played a bit harder, but that is now all in the past. We had a great team and coach this year, but we just did not come through.” Kim displayed his hard work by staying after the game to train and prepare for next year.

He then continued to explain how the boys’ tennis team cannot continue to underestimate their opponents or these playoffs losses will continue.

Isaac Kim stated, “I was so angry when I realized how many of our best players did not show up. If they decided to come, we could have had a better chance of winning this game and moving on to the second round. My team and I worked too hard this season to go out in the first round.”

Even though the boys’ tennis team fell in their first playoff game, they are determined to come back even stronger next year in hopes of a better playoff run.