SANTA CRUZ, Ca. -  On Thursday, April 24, members of the UC Santa Cruz Men's and Women's Tennis teams spent the afternoon giving back to the local community by volunteering at Siena House in Santa Cruz. The student-athletes rolled up their sleeves to help paint and prepare rooms for incoming residents—pregnant women and new mothers experiencing homelessness.

Siena House is a transitional shelter offering housing, support services, and resources for women during and after pregnancy. It provides a safe, structured environment where residents can focus on rebuilding their lives and preparing for the responsibilities of motherhood. The organization plays a vital role in supporting some of the most vulnerable members of the Santa Cruz community.

The Banana Slugs brought high energy and heart to the project, transforming several rooms with fresh paint to make them welcoming and comfortable for future residents.

"Our program emphasizes service and community, and this was a powerful way for our teams to live those values," said Head Coach Ross Pytko. "The work Siena House does is deeply impactful, and we're honored to support it—even in small ways."

For many players, the experience was both eye-opening and inspiring.

"Volunteering is always a great opportunity and we love to be able to help out with a local program. The team had a bunch of fun painting and we hope we can do it again," said Benjamin Wang (Class of 2027). 

"Siena House is such a great way to give back to our community. Everyone there is so welcoming and it's been amazing to be a part of their mission! The team had so much fun and we'd love to continue working with them," said Meghana Damojipurapu (Class of 2026). 

The UC Santa Cruz Tennis teams plan to continue their commitment to community service throughout the season, both on and off campus.