Marina
The Emporia High girls tennis team launched their 2025 varsity campaign on their home courts with a strong showing at the Emporia Invite.
The event, held on Thursday, September 4, set an optimistic tone for the season, showcasing depth, talent, and the potential of this year’s squad.
The early results and standout performances offer a glimpse of a team ready to make its mark.
Stellar Performances Take Center Court
In their first competition of the year, the Lady Spartans turned heads with noteworthy finishes across singles and doubles:
- Kali Keough, Emporia‘s top singles competitor, captured 2nd place.
- The No. 1 doubles team, Peyton Chanley and Kinsley Hines, secured 5th place.
- Isabella Hinst, another singles contender, finished 9th.
- The No. 2 doubles team, Alexa Tovar and Chelsea Mendez, also placed 9th.
These results underscore the team’s balanced performance and competitive spirit right from day one.
Meet Results at a Glance
| Player(s) | Event | Final Placement |
|---|---|---|
| Kali Keough | Singles | 2nd |
| Peyton Chanley & Kinsley Hines | Doubles (No. 1) | 5th |
| Isabella Hinst | Singles | 9th |
| Alexa Tovar & Chelsea Mendez | Doubles (No. 2) | 9th |
Coach Trujillo: Proud but Focused on Improvement
Head Coach Saul Trujillo praised his team’s effort:
“I felt like the team did a great job. Everyone stepped up and performed well.”
Despite the promising start, Coach Trujillo also emphasized the importance of refinement:
- Footwork needs sharper mechanics.
- Players must learn when to be aggressive.
- Mental barriers, such as fearfulness, should be addressed for better on-court decision-making.
Highlighting Keough’s victory over a top-tier player, he added:
“Kali got a big win today… she played very well today and hopefully she can play as well going forward.”
What’s Next for the Team?
The Lady Spartans aren’t resting on this success. Their next challenge is the Spring Hill Quad, scheduled for September 11. Coach Trujillo sees it as another opportunity to polish key techniques observed during the Emporia Invite:
“The Spring Hill Quad is tough, but hopefully they play well and fix small technical things that I saw last Thursday.”
As the team works to hone those finer points, maintaining momentum is the goal.
Why This Strong Start Matters
- Momentum Builder – A solid debut gives the team confidence heading into district matches.
- Depth Displayed – With places across singles and doubles, Emporia shows talent across its roster.
- Areas to Target – Identifying improvement zones early means more efficient practice sessions and better results down the road.
- State Ambitions – Last year, Emporia fell short of advancing past Day One at state. With this strong opener, Coach Trujillo and his players are eager to do better—setting their sights on deeper postseason success.
The Emporia High girls tennis team served notice at the Emporia Invite with several strong finishes in both singles and doubles.
While proud of their performance, the Lady Spartans and Coach Trujillo are committed to polishing technical and mental game aspects as they eye a deeper postseason run.
With focused improvement and that early momentum, the season holds exciting promise—beginning with the upcoming Spring Hill Quad.