The ball leaves sophomore Isabella Higareda’s hand as her body reflexively moves to slam it down on the court across from her. She celebrates as another one of her serves spins in and lands on the bright white intersecting lines.
The upcoming girls tennis season is coming to a start, and luckily most of the varsity lineup did not leave with the exception of varsity No.1 Kate Boyce. Their first match will be April 6 against Roncalli. With a powerful lineup of new seniors, the varsity spots are going to be competitive, as many players have been working hard over the off-season.
One of these players is Higareda.
“I have prepared for this season by getting lessons and competing in tournaments. I practiced four to six days a week, and I tried to play in as many tournaments as I could over the summer. The team started pre-season practices before Winter Break, so we have two practices a week for two hours,” Higareda said.
Another player hoping to get on jv and build connections is freshman Courtney Tooley.
“I personally have been preparing for this season by training about three days a week at the UIndy tennis facility and practicing two days a week at the school’s tennis barn with most of the team,” Tooley said.
Coach Maecee Terhune is confident.
“Many players have prepared for the upcoming season by continuing to hit all off-season. Many players have played in tournaments, clinics, or the pre-season workouts. We have hosted pre-season workouts in the all-sports complex since December to get as many players hitting before the season as possible,” Coach Terhune said. “I have also prepared by going to the Indiana Tennis Coach Convention to learn different ideas and drills that we can implement within our team to continue to see growth in all players.”
Excitement is high among players.
“I am super excited for this season so I can improve my skills but also have a lot of fun with my friends,” sophomore Annika Shaffer said.
Senior Moriah Ellington is looking forward to helping her underclassmen teammates and boosting the team’s morale.
“I am the most excited for this season out of all the seasons I have played. Maybe it is just because I am a senior, but I am ready to start practicing and supporting my teammates. Encouraging them during matches is one of my favorite parts,” Ellington said.
She is also hopeful for a strong team bond.
“My hopes for the season are honestly to make the most out of my last year. I would really like to see myself playing my absolute best, proving to myself that I have grown throughout my years of playing tennis and just getting 1 percent better every time I play. I am also really hopeful that the team can be very united this year and support each other on and off the court,” Ellington said.
