The girls tennis team concluded its 2024-25 season with a trip to the Elite Eight in the state playoffs. The team was eliminated in the third round but showed notable improvement throughout the spring and was able to foster a strong team atmosphere.
While the team’s season ended after a 3-2 loss to North Oconee, they still were able to wrap up the season with a strong team dynamic which included a balanced mix of returning players and new players, credited much of its success to strong chemistry and lineup depth.
Sophomore Sydney Stafford, returning for her second year on the team, said the season represented a turning point in her individual development and the team’s overall cohesion.
“This season felt like a big step forward for me,” Stafford said. “I had more confidence in my game, and I could tell my teammates trusted me more too.”
Stafford played both singles and doubles and took on a larger leadership role within the team. With several seniors having graduated, the team entered the season uncertain about key pairings, particularly in doubles. Underclassmen filled those roles effectively.
“The biggest improvement has been our doubles pairings,” Stafford said. “We weren’t sure who was going to play because of graduating seniors, but our freshmen have really stepped up and taken over those spots.”
Freshman Lane Burton was among those who emerged as consistent performers. Despite being new to the high school level, Burton adapted quickly and contributed during the playoff push.
“I was definitely nervous at the start of the season,” Burton said. “But the older girls really helped me settle in and feel like part of the team.”
Burton described the postseason loss as a learning experience.
“That second-round loss hurt, but it also showed me what high school tennis is all about—how much focus and fight it takes,” Burton said. “Every match felt like a learning experience. I can already see how much my game has changed from the beginning of the season.”
Stafford echoed that reflection.
“Even though the third-round loss stung, I think we left everything on the court,” Stafford said. “No one gave up, and that’s something to be proud of.”
Junior Stella Brown joined the team for the first time this season and became an important contributor. She said the transition from club to high school tennis was both challenging and rewarding.
“Joining the team this year was honestly one of the best decisions I made,” Brown said. “I didn’t expect to connect with everyone so quickly.”
Brown noted that the level of competition exceeded her expectations.
“As someone who hadn’t played high school tennis before, I was surprised by how intense and competitive it was,” Brown said. “I loved the energy at matches.”
Several players emphasized the team’s chemistry as a strength, especially with a roster that included members across multiple grade levels.
“I think the team environment is different,” Stafford said. “The team is more spread out across grades, which makes it feel a lot closer than last year.”
To foster unity in what is typically an individual-oriented sport, they held regular team dinners and focused on group support during matches.
“We don’t have rituals that much, but we do team dinners just to bond,” Stafford said. “I think that helps our chances, just because the whole team is more confident and working together to cheer on everyone when they are playing.”
Stafford also identified mental toughness as a key area of growth for the team, especially during high-stakes matches.
“Personally, my biggest challenge was mental—having tough opponents, losing against them, and struggling with confidence,” Stafford said. “I think our whole team felt that at times, but we all just pushed through and played really well in the region, and it paid off.”
Looking forward, players expressed optimism about the program’s future. With many underclassmen expected to return, the team hopes to build on this year’s postseason run.
“I’m really excited for what’s next,” Burton said. “This season gave me a lot of motivation to keep improving and help the team go even further next year.”
Stafford added that the experience of reaching the Elite Eight would be valuable moving forward.
“That playoff match was tough. We were right there, and I think we learned a lot from it. It’s only going to motivate us more next year,” Stafford said, “Ultimately I think we have played really well together as a team this year and hopefully will again next year.”
