The girls tennis team finished second place in Region 4-AAAA. The team is preparing for playoffs that begin on April 23.
“The team is very ready for playoffs as we have done very well in the region so far and will continue to do so,” senior and captain Devon DuBose said.
Five years ago, the girls advanced to the Final Four. The program has consistently maintained a spot in the Sweet Sixteen of the state tournament since then.
“The tennis team has always been very strong,” head coach Sandi Stein said. “We have made the top sixteen for the past couple years; sometimes, better, but we made sure it was never worse.”
Sophomore Sydney Stafford said the team is working on a shifting lineup as the Knights moved to Class 4A from Class 5A.
“A big challenge so far for the team has been figuring out a new lineup to get points,” Stafford said. “There are some new people who can shake things up, but I think that now we are pretty much ready for the playoffs.”
The Knights kicked off the season with a 4-1 loss to Marist.
“The hardest team we’ve played so far has been Marist, almost all of our players lost,” Brown said. “This was the first set of matches of the season, so we were still getting good doubles pairs set up.”
Despite the loss, players have succeeded individually with victories and personal growth. Sophomore Katharine Cardwell said she accomplished her goal of a comeback win.
“The biggest challenge I’ve faced this year was coming back from being behind one set. I’d lost the first set 3-6 but was able to come back in the second,” Cardwell said. “I didn’t start off the tiebreaker very well and was down 1-6 but still, pulling off a win was one of the highlights of my season.”
Stein said her focus for the team contributes to victories on and off the court.
“I talked to them about the three E’s: energy, effort and enthusiasm,” Stein said. “If they bring all those, they’ll be successful, whether we win or not, they’ll be successful.”
DuBose said the team is focused on chemistry and making sure to support teammates.
“I do my best to encourage the team by cheering them on and by example,” DuBose said. “I make sure we are doing team cheers to keep the team mindset intact since it is a primary individual sport.”
This season has also brought adjustments in leadership, leading to step up and take on new responsibilities. With only one senior, younger players have had to fill leadership roles.
“The team dynamic has changed because of the loss of most of our seniors,” Cardwell said. “It’s a lot different this year because there’s only one senior; so, some people have had to step up and help.”
The team continues to work through lineup adjustments and strategic changes. Despite this, Stafford said the Knights have been steadily improving throughout the season.
“Our team has played pretty well considering we do not have a set lineup yet and are still figuring things out,” Stafford said. “I think that pretty soon, we will have a good doubles lineup, which will really help us win.”
The team remains focused on the ultimate goal of advancing to state.
“These next few weeks will be very important in preparing for region and state,” Stein said. “We will be playing a couple difficult matches and trying to figure out who our doubles team is, and strengthening up our singles play.”
The team has also faced difficulties competing against certain schools, which have historically been dominant in the sport. However, Cardwell said they continue to compete with determination.
“Our team has struggled against the big private schools, but it is what it is,” Cardwell said. “They have more funding, but I think that our skill will make that not matter.”
Individually, many players are striving to improve their personal performances.
“Individually, I think I had a good tryout and am enjoying the sport more,” Stafford said. “Every practice I feel like I’m getting a bit better.”
Despite whether the team wins or loses, the players continue to stay positive. Brown said the players are emphasizing the importance of staying relaxed and not putting too much pressure on themselves.
“I try to remind myself that it’s just a game,” Brown said. “Keeping a casual mindset always helps me perform my best. When I’m calm and collected, it’s easier to be confident in myself throughout.”
