The varsity tennis team traveled to Fredericksburg Friday for their game. Tennis coach Kenneth Peiser said the competition was “very good.” The team started around 1 p.m. and finished around 8:15 p.m. The team will play in Temple in two weeks and district will be in Taylor April 22. 

“Many [students] get so disappointed when they mess up that they think they are hitting the worst they have ever hit,” Peiser said. “They do not understand that they are playing players that are at state each year, play three times as much as they do [and] play tournaments on their own–all the things that make you more comfortable in matches and pressure.”

Peiser said the team played extremely well for their capabilities and the amount of time they put into tennis. 

“Much of tennis is mental and not just their form and technique,” Peiser. “Showing them these characteristics of tennis is as important as feeding balls each day.”

Peiser said pointing out these situations while watching other teammates practice and play hopefully helps them see how to improve their own form and technique. 

“Sometimes just because they lose doesn’t mean they were playing bad, the other team was just playing better,” Peiser said.

Junior Sydney Unger has been playing tennis since 7th grade. 

“I really enjoy the people I play with,” Unger said. “We spend a lot of time together so we’ve created a bond that I really love.”

Unger encourages her teammates during matches by cheering when they win a point. 

“Constructive criticism is also something we do to help each other, making sure that they’re playing to the best of their abilities,” Unger said.

Senior Loretta Hodges has been playing tennis the entirety of high school. 

“I started in 6th grade, but when I moved in 7th [grade] my school didn’t have tennis so I didn’t start back up again until freshman year,” Hodges said. 

The varsity tennis team practices Monday-Thursday from 9th period until 5 p.m. Athletes warm up with two laps during practice, stretch as a group and then do cardio such as jump roping or jumping jacks. 

“Tennis is a really big mental game,” Hodges said. “Once you get in your head, it’s really hard to get out. We all cheer each other on at tournaments and in doubles it’s really important to keep talking to your partner to keep y’all’s heads on straight.”

Hodges enjoys playing mixed doubles in the spring season and seeing how much she has grown and improved since she started playing tennis. 

“Coach Peiser and Coach [Eric] White are pretty awesome too!” Hodges said.