Badminton lost to Monta Vista High School after a tiebreaker on Tuesday, March 17. The outcome came down to the last match, which Monta Vista won.

Head coach Gabriel Fossati-Bellani said the loss was disappointing, especially in light of the team’s prior successes.

“We came into this game with a lot of high expectations,” Fossati-Bellani said. “We were undefeated, and it was a tough way for the game to go.”

Senior and team captain Aiden Yuan said roster changes caused skill differences during  games and contributed to Paly’s loss.

“Our roster for this game was interesting because we put a lot of our players in easier games, which forced some of our other players to play harder games, and (they) ended up losing,” Yuan said.

However, Fossati-Bellani said many players who played unusual match pairings did well.

“There were some crucial mixed games that we won, and (they) were players that don’t normally mix, so people were showing up and playing well in positions they’re not normally asked to play in,” Fossati-Bellani said.

Moving forward, Yuan said the team needs to work on eliminating lapses in performance.

“I think the thing we (can) improve on is consistency,” Yuan said. “…We have had games that were lost due to inconsistent play and games that should have been won.”

Independent of the team’s wins and losses, junior Keira Tung said the team has fostered an unforgettable environment.

“Most of us actually ended up staying for the last two varsity games, and we were all there cheering, so I think that was really good for the team,” Tung said. “…It’s nice to know that even if you don’t know everyone on the team, or you’re not popular, everyone’s still there cheering you on because they want you to win.”