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Sports

Beverly Hills Tennis Team Aims High

Coming off last year's disappointing season, BHHS girls varsity is looking to make big improvements.

The Beverly Hills High School girls tennis team is accustomed to success.

Mike Margolin has been coaching the varsity squad for nine years. During that time, his players have been to the CIF state finals six times and won three titles. 

"We've had great teams," Margolin said.

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But last year, the Normans left the playoffs in the 16th round, its earliest exit under Margolin.

It was a "different team," Margolin said of last year's group. Most varsity players had graduated the year before, forcing the program to rebuild.

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New players were "thrust into greater roles and responsibilities," Margolin said. "There's a huge difference between [junior varsity] and varsity."

This season every player from the previous year has returned, along with sky-high expectations.

"We're looking to win a CIF title," Margolin said. "That's what we want to do"

To get the team ready for the postseason, Margolin has booked a competitive schedule for his athletes.

"I scheduled some tough teams and we're going to get rocked in a lot of these matches," he said. "But you want that—I want that—so that when playoffs come, they're ready."

Helping to lead the way will be third-year letterman Brianna Morgan, who Margolin says is one of the top juniors in the Southland.

"She trains incredibly hard and the kids look up to that," Margolin said. "This girl's incredibly dedicated…she's easily eligible for a scholarship to a [Division I] school."

Margolin would know. He has helped many young women—some the older sisters of current BHHS players—get into acclaimed college tennis programs. He also coaches his daughter, senior captain Megan Margolin.

"It's been difficult getting the freshmen up and the sophomores up," Megan said of the struggles from last year. "We got a lot better…but there's a lot more practice that needs to be done."

That practice will continue Monday as the new school year starts. Margolin's former teams have set the bar very high for his current squad, but with his experience from the past, the future of BHHS girls tennis is looking bright.

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