Tennis preview: Sikeston still eyeing postseason berth

sports@standard-democrat.com

SIKESTON -- As the Sikeston tennis team gears up for another season, head coach Russ Dial once again has his team focused on postseason success.

"We always strive to see the team advance out of district play," Dial said. "Or at least individual players and that didn't happen for us last season. However, we hope to change that this season. It will be a challenging season for us requiring our returning players to step up their level of play dramatically."

The Lady Bulldogs return many netters with varsity experience from last season, including Ali Price, Hope Mannon, Allenna Landers, Emily Braden, Kayden Butler and Mackenzie Alsup.

Though his team lost its third, fourth and fifth-ranked varsity players from last year Dial also expects some of his junior varsity players last year to step up to the varsity level and help fill those voids.

Newcomers to the team include freshmen Claire Hamlin and Emma Renfroe.

So far much of practice has included sharpening skills and getting new players accustomed to the game.

"Since we always have players who have no previous tennis experience we want to get them to a point of readiness that will ultimately help our team win our dual matches," Dial said. "We want to turn them into competitive players before the season's end. Moving forward, we will strive to advance from district play in all three areas of match play, team, doubles, and individual singles.

"We do expect our two freshmen to challenge for varsity spots before the season ends."

One thing Dial expects to help his team is a tough first half of the schedule that should test his team early. He expects this to pay off as the season wears on.

"We have a tough schedule with three matches in the first week," Dial said. "But I think for the long-term the fast pace of the early season schedule will benefit us going into district play. Additionally, it will force us to focus on getting things done in our preseason practices efficiently and in a timely manner, which will be a positive when it comes to our physical condition."

Dial added, "It is a lot to expect evidence of improvement in all of the areas we were weak in last season. However, due to the willingness of everyone on the team, thus far, to focus on these areas of weakness and strive to become more physically fit and mentally fit tennis players these first several days of practice have given us all hope for a successful season."