After last year’s successful season, the school’s Girls Tennis team plans to stay on top as state champions.  As the new season begins, Head Coach Joanne Lee plans to work the team even harder to hold on to the title.

“Last year’s team was one of the best we have had at Cox High School,” Lee said.

Due to the success of last year, Lee plans on using the same coaching methods as well as continuing to play against teams from out of the area.

“This will help the girls get the best competition to get us ready for states,” Lee said.

Last year was Lee’s first season as head coach and she is excited to see how they have matured as individuals and a team this season.

“They are all able to handle the pressure better on the tennis court and were very supportive of each other in order to win their matches.  They all work so hard during the season and off season; it was very rewarding to see them finish on top undefeated 16-0 state champions.  Winning states last year was a wonderful experience for the girls,” Lee said.

With a state championship win last year, it is important for the team to come back strong again.  Their focus is to get as far as they did last year, but also improve skills as a team and as individual players.

Players are putting in extra work to come back strong.  Returning junior, Seimi Park hopes to succeed this year by bringing the team together and staying determined and focused.

“As a team, we just want to keep up our record and do as well as we did last year, because we won states.  We’ve been practicing and preparing for much longer than we usually have, and we’re working harder to develop our skills and techniques more,” Park said.

In order to get the best competition the girls will not only play teams from out of the area, but they will also practice with the boys team.

“My goal this year is to get to the final of states.  I believe this team has the talent to win again,” Lee said.