The Bainbridge High School girls’ tennis team enter this season with a simple goal in mind, capture the region championship that they have narrowly missed out on each of the last two seasons. The Lady Cats have finished second in the region tournament the past two seasons and even with a young team and a new region they plan to capture the title this year.

“The newer girls seem excited to be stepping up into some important roles,” coach Amy Thomas said. “Overall, we have a good feeling of we really want that region championship we have been chasing for two years. I think everybody is of the same mind.”

Seniors Chloe Powell and Brianna Mills will have to step up on the court and also as leaders for the Lady Cats to accomplish their goal. With only two days of practice under their belt, both have fully embraced their new role and everything that goes with it.

“We have always had really strong leaders on the team,” Powell said. “Now that we’re seniors we have to step up and lead… I think we definitely have to work together as a team. I think it will be a good year.”

Mills added, “I have come a long ways. I didn’t start either of my first two years. I just know we have to work hard and work together.”

With the departure of multiple starters from last year’s team, the Lady Cats will be looking for multiple underclassmen to step into bigger roles and capitalize off their strong play last season.

“Sydney Burke is definitely going to have to step up,” Thomas said. “She is a singles player. She won the coaches award last year and was undefeated in region. She’s got the talent. She is going to have to step up and be a leader.”

Thomas is also expecting big years from Jade Stacey, Brea Powell and her two seniors Powell and Mills.They all contributed to our success last year,” Thomas said. “They are hungry for that region championship.”

Even though tennis is typically an individual sport, in high school they are scored and win as a team. As younger players step up into new roles, Thomas will have to find players that can have success as singles players and others that work well as doubles pairs.

“Some players just have natural tendency towards singles in that they have a lot of stamina and they have great ground strokes and have a lot of components to their games,” she said. “The more athletic players and those very willing to be aggressive and attack the ball, they tend to make good doubles players.”