Parkland girls tennis continued to serve and volley to perfection as the 2020 regular season ended last week with an undefeated 8-0 record.

The Trojans needed two decisions over Emmaus 5-2 and 6-1 on Sept. 28 and 30, respectively, to do it. There was nothing easy about it.

“It was extremely close,” said Trojan head coach Michael Hingston. “We had to really come back from a somewhat desperate situation that could have gone differently.”

Number one singles player Erin Joo was on the sidelines during the Emmaus matches thanks to tendinitis in her right shoulder. The week off means she will be ready for District 11 singles competition as the fourth seed, starting Oct. 5 at Saucon Valley.

“We just wanted to exercise some caution,” Hingston said.

Grace Werteen received the starting assignment in Joo’s absence, drawing Emmaus’ Jocelyn Chow. Werteen could not handle the talented Chow, losing all four sets.

“She took one for the team,” Hingston said. “She actually played very well and admirably. Grace never, ever misses a practice. She has a positive approach and a great all-around game. She likes to come to the net and she’s been fantastic.”

Parkland’s Leah Zolotareva and Anshika Gupta, playing in the number two and three singles slots, won all eight sets over the two-matches against Emmaus. Even then, however, the majority of those encounters were competitive.

The Trojans’ doubles teams proved the difference. Sierra Russoa and Sneha Patel, Gabrielle Leonzi and Sophia Lee, Julianna Dee and Kaila Miles and Sophia Petrocelli and Hope Broadhurst lost but two sets over two days. But as with everything else against Emmaus it was a struggle - nearly every set’s outcome was in doubt.

Dee serves as the team’s captain and shows outstanding leadership.

In addition to Joo, Zolotareva will play in District 11 singles as the sixth seed. Gupta will also compete in district competition, completing Parkland’s trifecta. District 11 team competition starts one week later, on Oct. 12. Parkland will be the two seed in that one. District 11 doubles starts seven days after, on Oct. 19.