During the 2018-19 school year, tennis became a sport at Pahrump Valley High School. Tennis at PVHS started as a club, gaining members who would continue to play, despite it not being classified as an actual sport at the school. Over the recent years, tennis has been overlooked by students; being in the shadows of sports like football and basketball. Even though many people did not recognize them for the hard work they put into the team, the girls continued to play and grow, leading to many successful seasons. The most recent season has been very successful for the girls, resulting in them almost attending state finals.
During the tennis season, practices run for three hours five to six days a week, depending on whether there is a match the following week or not. The coaches start by having the players run a lap around the court, followed by weight training, and then stretching. The warm-ups and workouts progressively intensify during the season, making the players work harder to get better. After warm-ups, players will do drills such as foot drills and a specific drill called “Work on the Alley”. Players will also practice serving and will sometimes even scrimmage with each other.
The team is made up of a tight-knit group of girls with many who have played together on the team for many years. The girls do not play as a full team; games are played with two players; most commonly called a singles match, or with four players, which is called a doubles match. Although the girls don’t get playing time together, they are still very close. A new player, Sarah Miller agrees. “We don’t play as a team but I have a good relationship with the other girls. We are all very close”. The team aspect of the sport is very strong, which is one of the key reasons the girls continue to play on the team. The girls help support one another through the season and provide kindness to each other during hard moments, much like the coaches.
Wanting to quit a sport is not necessarily uncommon, although it can be very draining when players lose love for their sport. Over the years, the girls on the PVHS tennis team have come up with many strategies to keep them from wanting to leave the sport permanently. Some take mental days off of practice, some talk to the coaches, some talk to other players about their situation and some must remind themselves of their love for the sport. “I think understanding that wanting to quit is temporary and it’s going to go away eventually helps keep me from actually quitting”, said a senior tennis player, Chloe Sitter-Jones who just finished her final season on the team. Almost all players struggle with wanting to leave their sport, but many things keep them from doing so. The girls continue to give the sport their love and dedication.
Tennis is a sport involving many aspects and trials. Players struggle with injury and self-doubt while coaches struggle alongside them. Tennis requires strength, honesty, and both mental and physical drive. But, players and coaches push through and persevere, leading to many very successful seasons. The team will continue to shine for years to come and so will its players. Make sure to support the team next season by coming to matches and showing up for these dedicated players!
