New shoes, new rackets, new players, new uniforms and new opponents, but most importantly for the new year in tennis, a new coach.

With the addition of Coach Janice Stephenson in the fall, the JV tennis team worked to advance in the rankings. After varsity’s performance at regionals, the JV team has had large spaces to fill. With Coach Stephenson, that has been made easy.

“Coach Stephenson helps me improve by going over things more often,” freshman Bailey McMains said. “We’ve all just improved as a team.”

As for practice, a normal day consists of at-the-net volley drills, serve and return routines, and anything in between.

“Practice is so much fun because I get to be with my teammates and play my favorite sport,” McMains said.

With Coach Redwine and Coach Stephenson closely observing, practice begins every day with a group stretching session lead by Captain Maddie Schimming. After hamstrings, calves, and all the rest of the stretches are done, 15-minute warm-ups start in order to get the team loose and ready for the next two to two and a half hour practice session.

Whether it be spring season, fall season, pre-season, or mid-winter offseason, the JV team puts in several hours on and off the court to improve their game, mentally and physically.

“I couldn’t imagine not having practice,” senior Vatteri Päiväniemi said, “I love my teammates.”