This spring, the girls tennis courts have been busier than ever. The 2026 season saw 43 players try out, up from just 23 last year, presenting a significant increase of players and interest but also some challenges on the court.
JV Coach Dani Lawrence noted that this season carried nine varsity players and 20 JV players, so 14 players who tried out had to be cut, while none were cut last year. Even with the unexpected surge, Lawrence said players embraced the change.
“Tennis teams are typically small, with around eight or nine players per team, so carrying 20 on JV has presented some challenges with court space and match opportunities,” Lawrence said. “However, the athletes have been extremely dedicated and positive. Many of them are here to learn and grow, and they’ve truly embraced that role.
For sophomore JV player Elliana Bass, the increase was noticeable during tryouts. The addition of new head coach Jess Volker, also impacted the timeframe.
“Our tryout was basically three weeks long for some of us,” Bass said. “We had to start everything from scratch, because … [varsity has] a new coach and [she] hadn’t seen us play at all, so that’s why the tryout process was so long.”
Bass said the team environment stayed positive throughout the process.
“The culture is really nice and comforting,” Bass said. “Every time I go, I always have so much fun. You make friends with the girls around you, along with the coaches.”
“My freshman year we only had six freshmen try out, and all of them made JV,” she said. “Each year after that, the number of girls increased significantly.”
She added that tennis is a sport that players can start in high school and continue to develop skills.
“If you put the effort in, you can compete with almost everyone at the high school level,” she said.
Coach Volker said the number of participants stood out this season.
“This year we had a lot of interest,” she said. “It is a sport that many like to try out and see how they like it and if they’re good at it. Plus, it is a lifelong sport, so once you learn how to play, you can continue for years to come.”
Volker noted that many players seemed to already be friends, which may have contributed to turnout. The varsity coach also explained why the program couldn’t accommodate such a large number of players.
“We had so many girls and, realistically, don’t have the space or staff to support that many daily,” Volker said. “We were honest with the girls and met individually with each one to share their strengths and where they fell with some categories of basic tennis strokes.”
Students who didn’t make a team this year were encouraged to continue practicing and try out again in the future.
Volker said newer players benefited from practicing with more experienced teammates.
“New players can learn so much from players who have played before. Besides skill and strategy, tennis is such a mental game that requires quite a bit of mental toughness,” she said.
Regarding the season, Volker said the team had set both individual and group goals.
“One of our goals is to be asked to make it to dual State in Kearney toward the end of the season … just being competitive and a team that others know will play hard,” Volker said.
Kendall Lawrence described a shift in the team’s approach compared with last year.
“Everyone came into this season with a new attitude. We got a new coach this year, and I think that has helped a lot of us in our confidence and team morale, making this season a good last season for us seniors,” she said. “We have seen much better results not only individually but also as a team: winning duals, difficult matches, and even having all of our doubles teams medal at the Fremont doubles Invitational.”
Team activities and shared practices have contributed to interaction between JV and varsity players.
“I feel like my team really has everyone’s back,” Kendall Lawrence said. “I, along with the other seniors, [am] so sad to leave this team and everything we have all gone through together. It’s super bittersweet.”
Coach Lawrence said if interest stays strong in future seasons, an additional team might need to be added.
“Looking ahead, we hope to continue building interest in the program and potentially add a reserve team,” Coach Lawrence said. “Next season will likely be even more competitive since we are only graduating three seniors, so returning players will need to continue working hard and showing their development.”
