It's not yet on a level with perennial powers like Edwardsville and Belleville West, but the Triad girls tennis team is making a name for itself.
Triad was 20-4-1 heading into Tuesday's match against Alton Marquette. The Knights finished first out of 16 teams at the Springfield Invitational - the first time they've placed higher than third - and won the eight-team Alton Tournament for the third year in a row. They finished sixth among 16 teams in a strong field at the Southern Illinois Duals, co-hosted by Edwardsville and Belleville East.
"I knew we had the potential to be talented, but we've exceeded my expectations so far," said Gabe Wise, in his seventh season as head coach after five years as an assistant.
"As far as ranking this group with previous teams we've had, it may be a little premature to say. A lot of that will depend on how we do at the (Mississippi Valley) conference tournament (Friday and Saturday at Triad) and the sectional (Oct. 14-15 in Alton).
"As of now, we're right up there with those teams. By the end of the season, I hope I can say that we're better than any we've had so far."
Triad's lineup has been steady throughout the season, with senior Rachel Allard at No. 1 singles, followed by freshman Lexi McCarthy, junior Jenny Lange, junior Taylor Stevenson, senior Brandie Cantrell and sophomore Nikki Steiner. Doubles combinations are McCarthy and Lange at No. 1, Allard and Stevenson at No. 2 and Cantrell and Steiner at No. 3.
"Everybody from No. 1 to No. 18 has made solid contributions," Wise said. "They push each other in practice and that shows on the court in a match.
"We've won conference 11 of the last 13 years and if win it this year, it would be our fourth in a row, so that's a big goal for us. At the sectional, Edwardsville will definitely be the favorite, but last year we qualified a singles player and a doubles team, so we're hoping for at least the same if not more this year."
For the players, another conference title is the next order of business.
"I want to be a part of that tradition and keep it going," said Cantrell, in her first year as a full-time varsity player.
Allard, a four-year varsity veteran, is a two-time state qualifier in singles.
"The first couple times I was really nervous, but this year I'd like to win at least two matches instead of one," Allard said. "I've gotten better at staying calm under pressure and I think I'm a better player overall. Last year I got third at the sectional, but this year I hope to get first or second, which would give me a better seed."
Lange, who qualified in doubles last year with Jenna Stevenson, will play doubles with McCarthy at the sectional as she attempts to return to state.
"We lost both our matches, but we had a really good time and I think that experience will help me this year," Lange said. "My serving is better and my forehand has improved too. At conference, I hope to get first in singles and doubles and at the sectional, I want to finish higher than fourth."
For the varsity newcomers, it's been enjoyable to be part of a winning team.
"It's nice playing matches that matter a lot more," Cantrell said. "There's more incentive, but there's a lot more pressure too."
McCarthy is the youngest player in the varsity lineup but is also one of the most experienced, having started playing tennis at age 7.
"Playing in high school is a lot different than just playing tournaments for USTA," McCarthy said. "Especially as a freshman, there's a lot of pressure. Playing No. 2, I've faced a lot of good competition."
While the first-place finish at Springfield was among the highlights for Triad, the girls weren't happy about losing the fifth-place match at the Southern Illinois Duals to Belleville East, a team it had beaten earlier.
"That makes us want to try harder," Cantrell said. "It puts into perspective that you can lose to somebody regardless of what you did before."
