My daughter Emily was a very good doubles player for the Raiders and while she was learning to play, I began taking tennis lessons of my own.  Even though my days of playing competitively are over now, I still play once a week just for the fun of the game.  Because I just LOVE tennis!

Since 4 young gals from our church are playing this year, I decided to enjoy a lovely spring evening photographing them in action.

John (who took over coaching the SHS tennis teams soon after Emily graduated) and I played some tournaments and matches as a mixed doubles team back in the day, before cancer  and a bum hip kept me off the court for a couple of years and I lost some of my tennis mojo.  Those were some great times and he was quite a competitive and encouraging partner, so I'm really happy for his great success as a coach.

Sophia plays #2 Singles for the Raiders.  I'm just getting to know this sweet girl and her family, as they are fairly new to our church.  

She's a great player and I loved watching her in competition mode!

Sophia won quite easily that evening, and I think she's going to have a great season!

I've known beautiful Hannah (on the right, in this photo with her doubles partner) since she was knee-high to a grasshopper.  I used to babysit with her every week so her sweet momma could go to Bible study.  

About 18 months ago, Hannah's dear momma Lee Ann went to Heaven suddenly and her world was turned upside down.  But Hannah has a incredible faith in the Lord and she is strong to the core.  As I watched Hannah play tennis, I know Lee Ann is so very proud of her!

I've loved watching her grow up into the wonderful person she is.  And she's a dynamo on the tennis court too!

My little foster grand-daughter is one of her biggest fans...she loves her Hannah!

They fought hard at #1 JV Doubles, but lost this match to a strong team.  But I can see great tennis experiences ahead for this precious girl!

Mikayla is another new friend of mine, and I'm loving getting to know her and her wonderful family.  Mikayla is a miracle herself, even at her young age a cancer survivor and thriver!  God certainly has great plans for this girl too!

The light was fading and I needed to take a few shots of one more gal from our church family, so I didn't get many of Mikayla.  But there's always another match....

I've also known Reina since she was a tiny little girl that I watched in the church nursery.  

Hard to believe she's a freshman in high school already!

Reina plays JV doubles too.  Coach John has 28 girls on his team this year, so there is lots of competition for the top spots. 

But Reina is a natural athlete and I know if she sticks with it and works hard, she will develop into very good tennis player.

A beautiful, fun evening at the Shenandoah courts watching some great girls do their thing.

Tennis, anyone?