Girls tennis is set to compete against Lawrence North next Tuesday

They are ready to compete.

“The season started with official practices on March 17th. Our first official match was April 7th against Roncalli,” Coach Maecee Terhune said. “On April 29th, we play a home match against Lawrence North High School. This is the first time we have played Lawrence North as they are new to our schedule this year.”

The preparations, play styles, and strategy are the main focuses during practices.

“As a team, we are prepared for the match. We have spent a lot of time in practice getting ready for this season. Practice has allowed us to focus on different styles of play and strategy that are helpful for each player in matches,” Coach Terhune said. “Leading up to the match against Lawrence North, we will have faced many teams that have pushed us to become better players across the board.”

The tennis team has many talented players who have made JV and varsity teams.

“The lineup this year is very different from last year. Last year, we had 11 seniors graduate, with four of those seniors being on our varsity lineup. This year we have three returning varsity players,” she said. “We have three girls who were on our JV team last year who have made the move up to a varsity spot. Then, we have one freshman who made our varsity lineup.”

There is a mixture of players who have been on the same team and players who are newer.

“The team we have this year has a mix of players who have played together last year and others who have not played together in a few years,” she said. “Many of the girls who were not playing together last year played together in middle school, so they at least know each other. Having a team that is familiar with each other is important to growing the team atmosphere.”

The girls tennis team previously had a successful year.

“Last season, we had a winning season with eight wins and seven losses. In our conference last year, we won three and lost four matches,” she said.

The motivation required to become an athlete is one of the most important things to consider.

“What motivates me to get better is that there are always techniques in my play I can improve,” Bik said. “For example, I am a good forehand and backhand player; however, I am not confident in volleys, and wanting to be better in it motivates me.”

Although players are on a team, tennis can be an individual sport as well.

“I just really enjoy that the community is really great and it’s more independent than it is a team sport, and I enjoy that a lot more than team sports,” Shaffer said. “I enjoy just getting better and pushing myself harder than I do. My friends really push me to be better.”

Becoming friends with teammates and encouraging them is an accomplishment for any athlete.

“My biggest achievement are the friends I have gotten because there is nothing really worth it if you don’t make friends,” Ellington said. “I love encouraging my teammates and being there for them, which is my favorite part.”

The welcoming atmosphere is important for new players to succeed in.

“It [the atmosphere] helps to build a stronger bond between players, and I see the players who might be newer being welcomed into the team and making new friends,” Coach Terhune said. “With tennis being an individual/partner sport with a team outcome, it is important to still have that overall team atmosphere for players to rely on.”

The support and encouragement from teammates impacts the outcome of the match.

“Encouragement does impact each player because when players are not playing and are watching matches, we are always cheering on our teammates,” Coach Terhune said. “This helps to keep our players’ spirits up and feel encouraged during tough points and matches.”

The changes that teams go through boosts their talents and their growth.

“For everyone, this is a change, whether it’s getting a new doubles partner or having a whole new spot which comes with a new type of tennis strategy. With all of these changes, each player is getting pushed to become a better tennis player and will only continue to grow as the season goes on,” she said.

Becoming a senior is a bittersweet experience, considering leaving behind teammates and friends.

“For this last season, I just want to play my best, get as many wins as I can with my hard work. Additionally, I just want to have fun and spend as much time with my teammates since it’s my last year,” she said.

The main goal for the tennis team is for the players to be proud and happy about their work.

“Our expectations for each match are to go out and play hard, competitive points. I want to see everyone giving the match their all and keeping their heads up knowing they’re trying their best,” Coach Terhune said. “I want the team to be happy with how they played and know that they did everything they could to try and win their match.”