Optimistic NHS' girls tennis season

The Niwot High School girls varsity tennis team finished last season with a hard fought 7-6 record. Despite strong individual showings, including Sahasra Kolli winning the Class 4A state championship at #2 singles, the team was challenged by a lack of depth according to Coach Aimee Hites.

Hites expects that depth to improve as the team begins its spring season with a home match against Fairview High School at 3:30 p.m. on March 5.

Kolli returns for her sophomore season and will play at #1 singles. While playing #1 entails a higher level of competition, she brings with her the experience and confidence of a state champion.

Tracy Yu, now a senior, will be playing #2 singles this year. While she'll be pulling double duty playing both tennis and soccer this spring, Yu will benefit from all the competition that comes with playing both sports.

Cassie Chen, a junior, is starting the season at #3 singles with teammates Samantha Zachy and Anne Haley playing #1 doubles. Challenge matches, seeing who works best together and success throughout the season will all play a role in Coach Hites’ lineup as the season advances.

As she enters her 15th year as coach, Hites said she is particularly excited about this season as it’s one of the most positive groups of players she’s been around since she started with the Cougars.

Staying positive will be helpful given the Cougar schedule. Hites said they have one of the toughest, starting with Class 5A Fairview, which went 14-2 last year.

Still, Coach Hites is optimistic about the match given her confidence in the team and the knowledge that Fairview lost some depth with the graduation of three key seniors who took with them a combined 26-1 record last season at #3 singles and #1 doubles.