For the second straight year, Panther women’s tennis will try to catch lightning in a bottle.
After authoring the most successful year in program history last fall, including a 14-0 regular season and a trip to the Dual Team State Semifinals, Heather Bell’s team should again be contenders in the 3A division. Missing just one key senior from last year’s squad, the Panthers have been hard at work preparing for 2023.
“We had quite a few girls decide to play tennis basically year-round,” said Bell of the team’s returning veterans. “A couple managed the boys team, participated in a spring league, sought out private lessons or practiced with teammates and family. Starting mid-summer we begin more regular workouts and focus quite a bit on conditioning and becoming more aggressive in point play.”
After so much success in 2022, many Panthers have thrown themselves at their offseason work, staying sharp individually throughout the winter and spring and practicing with teammates this summer. With former No. 1 player and All-State selection Alyssa Smith’s spot up for grabs, Franklin recently took part in an intra-team tournament to assign rankings for the fall season.
“Each fall we complete challenges where the girls play head-to-head matches to decide a ranking among the team,” said Bell. “Since all of the girls are so close in ability we again completed a round robin format, going by head-to-head wins first, then most number of games if there was a dilemma. Luckily the challenges resulted in clear decisions on rank. We will reassess mid-season and prior to post-season play.”
After settling on the team’s top six singles players and three tentative pairs for doubles, on Wednesday, Aug. 23 Franklin opened their regular season with a Mountain Seven Conference matchup. In a 9-0 rout of Tuscola, the team showed why they went unbeaten in the M7C last year.
At No. 1, Abigail Angel played the match of the day for Franklin, tying her opponent 6-6 in the first set and prevailing in a 7-4 tiebreak. Despite the marathon first set stretching the match to roughly two hours, about an hour longer than any of her teammates’, the junior won the second set 6-2 to claim victory.
At No. 2, returning All-State player and 3A doubles state semifinalist Kate Phillips made quick work of her opponent 6-0, 6-2. At No. 3, senior Laura Holland won 6-1, 6-0; while none of junior Maci Stork (No. 4), senior Logan Guynn (No. 5) or senior Lydia Holland (No. 6) allowed their opponents a single game.
In doubles, Angel and Phillips played a surprisingly difficult match at No. 1, but ultimately prevailed eight games to six. At No. 2, the Holland sisters defeated the Mountaineers 8-1, while junior Gianna Abbate and sophomore Caroline Deal dispatched Tuscola’s third doubles pair 8-2.
In demolishing their first Mountain Seven opponent of 2023, the Panthers should have plenty of confidence to start the season. The result was well-timed, too, as the team ratchets up its degree of difficulty in trips to Pisgah and North Henderson this week.
While the win over Tuscola is an excellent start, Franklin remains a long way from even qualifying for the state playoffs, and the reigning Mountain Seven Coach of the Year says she’s just trying to keep her team grounded.
“Overall, there is an air of excitement; I think there is still an undercurrent of knowing this team’s potential,” said Bell of following up the team’s stellar 2022. “I do however try to keep pressure off the girls as much as possible – few people compete well when stressed or focusing solely on a result. The message so far this year continues to be about showing up, giving your absolute best effort, having a positive attitude and having confidence in your potential. These are all crucial things to be successful and for them continue to grow as an athlete and competitor.”