These girls have become a part of my life since I volunteered to help my daughter Emily coach them this spring.

Last year's season was a bust due to the pandemic, so this season is especially precious to our 3 seniors Morgan, Sophia, and Alex....well 4, if you count our senior student manager Luke.

Most of this group of juniors (Hannah, Abby, Cori, and Reina) got in one year's experience before having to skip a year. Abby is a tennis newbie, but she is athletic and smart and is quickly learning the game.

The underclassmen are all tennis rookies, but they are improving every single day. And they're having fun...which is the most important thing of all.

Good luck, Lady Raiders, on your opening match this evening!

For several of them and for this old "coach," it's our high school...

...tennis debut.