Hill steps in as new coach of Lady Knights net squad
West Holmes’ second doubles team of Nadia Chaney, right, and Zariah Troyer took home a runner-up trophy at the recent West Holmes Invite on Saturday, Aug. 13.
Last season Rebbie Hill was a mom watching her daughter play tennis for the West Holmes Lady Knights.
This year she is a coach, guiding two daughters and the rest of West Holmes on the courts.
As WHHS’s new head tennis coach, Hill is excited about the possibilities this year’s Lady Knights crew possesses, stating it is a team full of players willing to work toward improving.
“They know the basics. It’s just a matter of pushing them to want to do better, seeing what they did last year and going a step above,” Hill said. “It’s just a matter of gaining confidence and perfecting the basics, like moving forward and not being afraid of the net, being aggressive, proper footwork, and working on fundamentals. I want to push them to get better.”
Hill said she has a blend of talent that varies from sticking to the baseline to pushing up to the net, which should do well when it comes to pairing partners for doubles play.
But most importantly, she said she sees girls who will listen to instruction and take it to heart. Hill said that can only lead to good things as the year progresses.
“I’ve already seen a lot of improvement in the early going,” she said. “Staying positive, sticking to the basics and learning strategy is going to allow us to get better and better as the season progresses. I’m excited about the possibilities.”
Hill said as a new coach, she isn’t too familiar with each of the girls’ tendencies, strengths and weaknesses, but like the girls, she is ready to dig in and learn.
Hill stepped in to her first season of coaching after longtime Knights head coach Jason Otto left to take on a new job elsewhere. West Holmes was still looking for a coach as the season approached, and with two daughters playing (Nadia and Arora Chaney), she figured she was going to be at the matches anyway.
“I play tennis and know the game, so I figured why not give it a try,” Hill said. “I think it’s going to be a fun season.”
In the season opener, West Holmes took on Clear Fork and dropped a 3-2 contest. The Colts won all singles matches while the Lady Knights took both doubles matches.
At first singles, Clear Fork’s Jessica Farnsworth defeated Arora Chaney in a battle of deuces 6-1, 6-2. Hill said that match seemed to go to deuce every game as the two battled. At second singles, Emily Montgomery defeated Cuylee Troyer in a 6-4, 7-5 contest, and third singles saw Jordan Pfeifer take down Genna Miller 6-1, 6-2.
West Holmes’ first doubles duo of Addison Christine and Brylie Rickly toppled Makenna Wuertz and Sophia Wilson in a 6-1, 6-2 victory, and Nadia Chaney and Zariah Troyer won 6-0, 6-0 at second doubles.
At the West Holmes Invite on Saturday, Aug. 13, the Lady Knights hosted Triway, Claymont and Crestwood in what turned out to be a balanced tournament that saw Claymont claim the title by taking home championships at first and second singles and first doubles. Triway finished second by winning third singles and second doubles, and Crestwood finished third with runner-up finishes in first, second and third singles.
West Holmes got on the board by taking second place with first doubles team Christine and Rickly reaching the finals. Also taking second place in second doubles was the team of Nadia Chaney and Troyer. Rounding out the Knights’ effort was Arora Chaney taking third place at first singles and Cuylee Troyer taking third place at second singles. Genna Miller also competed for the Knights at third singles.