Ark Valley News - Hornets look to state qualifiers to lead the way

Juniors and seniors — Front from left: Cadence Ciesielski, Ali Schul, Valerie Williams, Victoria Bishop. Back row: Coach Matt Klusener, Jacqueline Toews, Rachel Binau, Madison Isham, Kara Harden, coach Dean Schulz. Not pictured: Katelyn Babcock, Katlynn Owens, Jessica Sharp.

Hornets look to state qualifiers to lead the way
By Randy Fisher
Last Updated: August 25, 2017

The biggest positive for this year's Valley Center High School tennis squad is its depth and experience.

“We only graduated one of our top six," said coach Dean Schulz. “We have some good, strong young players coming in. I don't think we're going to lose anything."

When you look at the Hornets this season, start with Rachel Binau and Jessica Sharp. Partners for the third year and two-time state qualifiers, they know what to do to improve on last year's fifth-place finish at state.

“We need to be more aggressive all around," said the senior Binau. “We worked really well together as a team last year."

“Just dial in on our mistakes and push forward and just remember if we mess up, we can learn from that mistake and go on and become better than what we were the year before," said Sharp, a junior.

Schulz also welcomes back Valley's top singles player, Victoria Bishop. The senior lost a frustrating match last year that, if she had won, would have qualified her for state. Bishop believes she is her own worst enemy.

“Coach would probably agree with me on this, but I have an attitude problem sometimes," she said. “That day I was tired. … It was really hard to stay positive. I get so angry when I don't feel like I'm playing the way I can."

Bishop played in several tournaments this summer, trying to build up her confidence.

“I play great when I'm happy and I've been real happy these last few weeks," she said. “I think I have a good feeling this season that I'll be able to keep myself up."

Who will compete at No. 2 in doubles and singles is far from being settled.

Valley's returning No. 2 doubles team is senior Jackie Toews and sophomore Mallory Feather. Toews has a conflict with an internship this semester, which puts things up in the air.

“We'll have to see what will be best for the team through the season and into the postseason to see if we leave that team together or not," Schulz said.

Schulz said Feather and Kara Harden, now a junior, played doubles in middle school and were fairly successful.

Another possibility is to pair Madison Isham with someone. A senior, Isham has played No. 3 doubles most of her career at Valley Center. She and her sister, freshman Lindsey Isham, have shown individual promise this fall. Are the Ishams a possible doubles team for the Hornets?

“I mentioned that and I got dirty looks, so I don't think so," Schulz said with a smile.

At singles, sophomore Megan Jones worked hard all summer, and fellow sophomore Sophia McNiel played a lot of JV singles last year.

In addition to this cadre of players, Schulz said juniors Katelynn Owens and Alli Schul, along with freshmen Zoey Taylor and Gabrielle Glidewell, have shown progress and could contribute significantly this year.

Binau and Sharp are confident they can three-peat as state qualifiers. But the Hornets' goal is to have more than just one entry at state. That's where an experienced squad can help.

“It makes me happy," Binau said. “Maybe we can get one or two more to come to state with us this year, hoping we make it back. Maybe we can actually place higher as a team."

“It makes me want to play better, become better and challenge myself," Sharp said.

“We have a good chance in doubles," Schulz said. “We just got to sneak some singles players in there to help us score some points."

Schulz and assistant coach Matt Klusener will lead the Hornets into their season-opening, singles-only event Aug. 24 at Salina Central.