Team members say they are hopeful the return of six former starters on varsity girls tennis team will translate into success during its upcoming season.
The team’s roster this year is stacked with veterans, with eight members returning to the lineup.
“I think it’s going to help that most of us are upperclassmen and have all been playing together for a while,” co-captain Danielle Selzer said.
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Head coach Nick Wilson said the team’s history means the teammates are familiar with each other’s strengths and weaknesses.
“I think our talent is at the highest since my tenure here,” he said.
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Wilson said last season the team had only one returning starter.
“So it’s completely different this year,” he said. “Now I have a bunch of girls coming back who have played many matches, singles and doubles.”
He said the team’s experience and previous winning record set the bar high for the team’s upcoming campaign. Last year it boasted an 11-5 record and made the playoffs for the first time in 18 years.
“I want to make the playoffs again this year, but with a higher seed,” Wilson said. “We were kind of a surprise team last year in the playoffs and were seeded 15 out of 16. It would be nice to get in on a higher seed this year.”
Training camp began for the team Aug. 15. The team kicked off its season last week with a winning match against Ringgold High School and will take on Central Valley tonight.
The team is currently in the process of filling its starting slots -- in tennis, seven starting players are divided into three singles-match positions and two doubles teams.
“We are just trying to figure out our lineup right now,” Selzer said. “Our doubles is kind of ambiguous, and we don’t really know who is first and second doubles. So we’re trying to work through that and get ready for the season.”