Last year, varsity tennis lost 12-1 against Westwood, who has won the last three state championships. Westlake fell to Westwood 12-3 on Aug 28—the best fight they’ve put up against the Warriors in five years. Tennis’ performance was led by seniors Daniel Holzer and Kirby Pierce who won an emotional upset over the Warriors duo to set the tone for the rest of the season.

For Holzer, the victory carried a special kind of weight. Having lost to Westwood several times in his career, he admitted that this victory felt like breaking through a barrier.

“It feels really good, yeah. [We] lost to them many times,” Holzer said. “Good to get this one and contribute to the team.”

Holzer and his doubles partner Pierce built their success around their years of chemistry. They’ve had a history of victory together, and two won a big tournament last year, showing they can compete and produce results against top competition. Both players kept their energy positive, cheering each other on in between points.

“Our chemistry was amazing. Make a mistake, you encourage the other guy,” Holzer said, “You can’t just let one point screw up your whole match.”

That mentality gave them an edge in match-breaking moments. Even when some crucial points slipped away, the two immediately reset and made sure the momentum never left their grasp. It was that steady rhythm, rooted in trust for each other and communication, that separated them from their Westwood opponents, Holzer said.

Their match wasn’t without its challenges, just before they finished warming up, Holzer’s racket broke, and he would have to play with a new one.

“I thought I was going to play really bad. Really bad. I was already making excuses,” Holzer said. But once the match began, “I realized I had to put that behind me and just play my best game.”

For the team, the two beating the Warriors duo was more than just one doubles match. Last season’s bitter and lopsided 12-1 defeat had lingered with them, serving as a motivation heading into this season.

This time around, the two proved that they had closed the gap with one of the state’s best programs.

“I think we have a really good team this year,” Holzer said. “Good shot at winning state. We just gotta play together and get these matches under our belt to gain experience”

With seniors like Holzer and Pierce setting the tone, varsity tennis enters the remainder of the season with renewed confidence.

For Holzer the victory meant redemption after years of falling short. For Pierce it reaffirmed his role as a strong doubles partner. And for the remainder of the team, it meant that this year’s team has the tools to compete at the highest level.