Girls Varsity Tennis

Program Overview
Girls Tennis Program
The Gunn Girls Tennis program centers on growth, teamwork, and the mastery of a lifelong sport. The team plays on eight courts — four Har-Tru and four all-weather. The coaching staff is dedicated to developing every athlete — from those with recreational experience to those aspiring to play in college. Every team member is expected to bring a competitive spirit and a high standard of preparation to the court. The goal isn't just to win matches: it's to leave with the skill to play well and courteously at the club level for years to come.
The varsity roster includes about 12 players and a team manager, competing against opponents from Hopkins, Berkshire, Millbrook, Ethel Walker, Westover, and Hamden Hall, and in the Suffield tournament each mid-May. Training combines on-court and off-court work — technique, doubles strategy, court etiquette, and the overall fitness that high-performance tennis demands.
Three core principles define the team culture on and off the court:
"Do the Next Best Thing" — prioritizes initiative and growth. Rather than dwelling on mistakes, athletes are expected to move toward the next positive action, whether that's adjusting a technical error or cheering for a teammate.
"We Over Me" — emphasizes that success is a collective effort. While tennis often feels like an individual sport, we win and lose as one unit, and when one player improves, the entire team rises.
“Master the FUNdamentals” — builds on the basics: positivity, respect, and preparation. We strive to leave the court every day better than we found it.
JV Girls Tennis — Team Overview
Girls JV Tennis offers a lower-pressure environment where the coaching staff can lean further into mastering the "FUNdamentals" at the heart of the program's culture.
The JV roster includes about 12 players and a team manager. Coaches focus on the basics:
Core Strokes — mastering the forehand, backhand, and serve
Net Play — building confidence at the net with volleys
Strategic Foundation — learning the basics of court etiquette and doubles strategy
The goal is to strengthening skills so athletes can progress toward more competitive play, while building a lasting love for the game.
Meet the Coaches
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Assistant CoachJason Cirrito joined the Mathematics Department faculty and 2025. He is an Assistant Coach for Boys and Girls Varsity Cross Country and Girls Varsity Tennis. Cirrito grew up in a family of six children on the North Shore of Long Island. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Vassar College in mathematics and statistics (with a concentration in core mathematics and applied mathematics) and physics. He was a member of Vassar’s DIII Cross Country, Indoor Track & Field, Outdoor Track & Field teams, running a 5K in 15:07, and was named to the Liberty League All-Academic Team for three consecutive years.
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Head CoachJen began her association with private secondary schools by attending The Loomis Chaffee School. After Loomis, she attended Gettysburg College where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a concentration in Marine Mammal Science. During her time at Gettysburg, Jen fostered two main interests, working with dolphins and traveling abroad. After some time working with dolphins at the Dolphin Research Center, Jen’s interest in travel won the day, leading her to turn her attention to language and history. Jen pursued these interests through study, including a summer spent at Middlebury College’s French School. Eventually, Jen’s studies and her love of History led her to Georgetown University where she earned her Master of Arts in Liberal Studies in Medieval and Early European History, graduating in 2007. Following her graduation from Georgetown, Jen accepted a teaching position at Cheshire Academy, where she remained for two years teaching AP European History, History Humanities, and Modern World History, and coaching the Varsity Swim Team and Girls Varsity Tennis. In 2009, Jen was pleased to join The Frederick Gunn School faculty as a member of the History department where she teaches World History I Honors and Psychology. Beyond the classroom, Jen serves FGS in several additional roles as the Sophomore Class Dean, Head Dorm Parent in Van Sinderen Dorm, and Assistant Coach of Girls’ Varsity Tennis. In her free time, Jen enjoys swimming, skiing, sailing, playing tennis, and traveling.
Roster
Girls Varsity Tennis Roster
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Kate Baker2027Fairfield, CT
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Izabella Blake2026Vineyard Haven, MA
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Summer Copen2028New Preston, CT
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Martha Ewing2026New Preston, CT
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Kaitriona Githaka2027Pelham, NY
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Abigail Gleason (captain)2026Wake Forest, NC
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Ava Gleason2026Wake Forest, NC
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Pia Maccione2026Woodbury, CT
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Camila Naik2028Roxbury, CT
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Tamaki Nakane (captain)2027Setagaya
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Curry Nye (captain)2026Bedford, NH
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Lilla Trotta2027Guilford, CT

