Chloe French is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Tempe High School for AZPreps365.com

The Tempe Buffaloes fought hard but ultimately lost to the Mesquite Wildcats, 8-2, in a doubles match on March 27. Despite the defeat, Tempe's No. 1 doubles team of juniors Darshan Hillegeist and David Pugh showed considerable growth and resilience against a tough opponent.

The match began with Mesquite taking the first set, but Tempe responded with a strong second set. The Buffalos maintained their composure, staying calm even when down in points. Although they were unable to win the majority of the sets, Tempe claimed the second and fourth, showcasing their ability to adjust and fight through difficult moments.

“It was a good match overall. We were pretty well matched,” Pugh said after the game. “I think I played my best. We obviously lost, but it is what it is.”

The first and third sets were won by Mesquite, with both teams battling through intense rallies. However, Tempe’s resilience allowed them to take the second and fourth sets. While they couldn’t maintain that momentum, the Buffalos showed improvement from the first set to the last.

Hillegeist, who struggled with his consistency throughout the match, admitted he wasn’t happy with his performance.

“Pretty mediocre,” Hillegeist said. “I felt that I lacked some motivation and confidence in my shots, which made my partner work harder. And all of my tennis grips are sliding, so that’s making it pretty hard to play.”

Despite his frustrations, Hillegeist remained positive and praised his partnership with Pugh.

“Me and David are really solid. He’s really good at net, which I’m not. So, when I’m in the back and he’s in the front, we work pretty well,” Hillegeist said. His strong forehand and backhand, along with Pugh’s net play, made for a solid combination, even if the result didn’t reflect their efforts.

For Pugh, the challenge was more mental.

“It’s the mental game and not giving up too easy,” Pugh said. “As a team, we need to work on our communication and knowing when to switch.”

Head coach Candice Reeve praised her players' efforts, particularly in light of their opponents’ experience.

“You can tell there’s a difference in skill level,” Reeve said. “They’re newer to the sport compared to their opponents, but I feel like they held their own considering.”

Reeve also highlighted Hillegeist and Pugh’s leadership on the team. “Dash brings the edge,” she said.

“The boys try to emulate what he does because he has a really strong forehand, a really strong backhand, and he’s got some of the better fundamentals of the team. David really brings that team captain energy. He’s the organizer, the communicator.”

Both players remained confident despite the loss, looking forward to building on their experiences.

“I think we had a rough start, but we’re figuring it out,” Pugh said. “I’m excited for the rest of the season.”

While Tempe didn’t get the win, their strong teamwork and growth throughout the match show that the team is headed in the right direction. With continued improvement, the Buffalos are likely to become even more competitive as the season progresses.

“I’m pretty happy and excited for the rest of the season,” Hillegeist said. “We know what we need to work on, and we’ll continue to improve.”