Lake Norman Publications

‘What off-season?’ Tennis champions test meddle after one-month break



Pine Lake Prep’s Kailey Patel, left, and Andersen Schubert had the team’s only wins against Hough Sept. 9. /Doug Coats

CORNELIUS – The two local tennis teams that won state championships in June have different situations regarding their returning players, but both still have high expectations for the traditional fall season. The sport experienced the shortest off-season of any sport since it was bumped to the final tier for 2020-21.

Hough, the 4A champ, graduated its top three players, including state finals MVP Oriana Espinoza. She and the Jimenez twins left big shoes to fill, which have mostly been taken over by the Huskies’ strong group of juniors.

“We lost three strong seniors,” coach Laura Taylor said. “That was tough, but they’re moving on to their next chapter. I’m proud of my (players) who have taken their spot. That’s the rotation of high school tennis. Luckily, we have lots of new girls coming in.”

Meira Volk is now in the No. 1 singles slot, starting her junior season at 5-1. Her only loss was to Pine Lake Prep’s two-time state champ Andersen Schubert in the team’s 6-3 victory Sept. 9. Hough’s lone senior and a two-sport standout, Jessica Brannon, has a 4-0 mark at No. 2, and freshman Asia McCrae has shown promise in the No. 4 spot.

Hough was the 4A runner-up in 2019, and Taylor realizes the expectations will remain high. After a 6-3 loss to Myers Park to open the season, the Huskies have won five straight, only dropping four total sets.

“I try to keep it realistic and look at it one match at a time,” she said. “I think everybody knows what the end goal is. We have to have fun.”

Since this is the first time the sophomores and juniors have been in the school building together, developing relationships has been a big part of the team-building approach after an offseason that only lasted a month.

“A lot of the beginning parts of practices, it’s just basically learning about your teammates, learning about one another,” Taylor said. “Several weeks in, that’s meshed, and they’re having almost too much fun. It’s an individual sport, but we play for our team. They’re gelling and realizing that each point counts for that team end goal.”

Meira Volk has taken over at the No. 1 singles spot for state champion Hough. /Doug Coats

Pride experienced at the top

Pine Lake’s Schubert is one of the most decorated tennis players in the state, winning both individual and team state titles the last two seasons. 

But she’s just one of the Pride’s five returners from those championship teams, including No. 2 singles player, junior Kailey Patel. Those two provided the team’s only individual wins against Hough and are unbeaten through three matches.

“We have pretty much the same lineup, and we all know how to play our courts pretty well,” Schubert said. “That’s definitely huge.”

The Pride will compete in the split Catawba Shores conference, but move to 2A for postseason play in mid-October. Schubert was pleased with how she played against, and the team’s lone 4A opponent this season serves as a good preview for the type of competition on the road to a potential three-peat.

“That would be really cool, for our first year in 2A, and that would be a huge step for the future of the team,” she said. “Our whole team has done really well. Kailey did well. She pulled it out, had a good win. Everyone else is doing well. I think we have a good chance to send a lot of people to regionals.”

The state championships were held a month after the school year ended, the same weekend as wrestling and track and field held their finals. Despite such a short off-season, Schubert said it was still beneficial.

“There wasn’t really an off-season, but it was nice to have that off,” Schubert said. “I got to relax, but I’m excited for my senior season. It’s my last one. I think that’s how I was able to come back so quickly, knowing it’s my senior season and giving it my all. It was definitely a short break.”

Andersen Schubert is one of five returning singles players off Pine Lake’s sate championship team.

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