In a sport built on individual performance, tennis teams still rely heavily on trust. Trust in teammates, trust in preparation, and trust in the process.
Even in a pair of close 2-3 losses to McIntosh last Friday, that trust remained at the center of the Panthers performance throughout each match.
Although the matches are individual, pressure is shared across the team. Because of this, players must depend on their teammates to perform for the sake of the team to the best of their ability. Every match determines the outcome of the team’s score as a whole.
Unlike most team sports, teammates cannot step into matches to encourage one another, but ride on the backs of their confidence in one another, which is only developed through camaraderie and solidarity.
“I think we have a lot of depth on our team,” junior William Deslyper said. “We practice pretty seriously, and that builds the team’s chemistry and bonding, making us a stronger team.”
In tennis, the overall result is determined by the five separate lines of play and each of these five lines factor into the team’s score. Together, they determine the overall winner of the match, with the team winning the majority of the five matches securing the victory.
Because matches happen at the same time, coaching becomes hindered. This structure makes it difficult to motivate players and correct them. Making the mental aspect of the game the challenge to overcome.
“It’s more the mental game of tennis,” head coach Katie Tucker said. “Any point in the tennis match can be the turning point.”
That trust was put into action during one of the match’s most critical moments. Senior Chloe Bearden fell behind early in the first set of her match before winning in a tie-break, 7-6. Bearden did not allow her rough start to determine her outcome. She won her second set 6-3.
“I couldn’t give her any more points,” Bearden said. “I don’t think about anything else.”
As the team prepares for region play after spring break, their dedication is shown not necessarily in the numbers, but in spirit and trust.
Starr’s Mill travels to Harris County for their final region match of the season on March 26. The Panthers will honor their seniors prior to their home match on April 2 against East Coweta.