Last season, the Lady Royals tennis team finished with a 3-7 head-to-head record, securing impressive wins against schools like Avon, Franklin, and Brownsburg—all coming down to just this. The team also placed third at the Delta Invitational and fifth at the HCC Tournament. Unfortunately, their journey concluded in the sectional round of the IHSAA State Tournament.
“I hope we can place higher than we did last year at conference,” said senior Evelyn Hiner when reflecting on the previous season. “I see us mentally improving our game and handling frustration better,” she added.
Looking ahead to this season, the Royals will field a strong lineup with five returning seniors and eight juniors. After losing 12 seniors to graduation last year, the biggest surprise is the addition of 15 freshmen, along with eight sophomores—ensuring a bright future for the program as they set their sights on a state title. With so many new faces, team chemistry and development will be key factors in their success.
“I’m excited for the season and learning from my upperclassmen,” said freshman Delilah Yoo when asked about joining the team. “I’m nervous—I’ve never experienced high school tennis before, but I’m looking forward to the challenge,” she admitted.
“If this freshman class dedicates itself to tennis and teamwork, then the future of this team will be amazing” said head coach Doug Gernet.
Beyond nearly 20 matches and meets, the team will also host its annual preseason Parent-Daughter Tournament—a fun and competitive event where parents team up with their daughters to see which family reigns supreme. This beloved tradition strengthens bonds both on and off the court.
“We have some holes to fill as we replace the seniors we lost from last year. We will continue to uphold what it means to be a Royal and continue to show every team we play that we are a team that believes in sportsmanship, supporting each other, and we are a tough team” said Gernet.
The Royals are set to take on Zionsville High School April 16th in their season opener, as they hope to start strong and build a base to improve throughout the season, and the end goal to get better each day.
