Free State High’s girls tennis team scorched Olathe South, 8-1, in the Firebirds’ only home dual Monday at Free State.

“Overall, we played very well,” Free State coach Jon Renberger said. “It was a nice way to play at our only home event of the year.”

The only Firebird not to win was the squad’s top-seeded player, senior Rachel Koch. Despite jumping to a 3-2 lead, Koch lost to Olathe South’s Andrea Volin, 8-4.

Koch is one of five seniors out of Free State’s six varsity players. The only non-senior on the squad is her sister, sophomore Andrea Koch, who beat Jennifer Getts, 8-1, at the No. 2 spot.

Besides Rachel Koch’s loss, the Firebirds won eight matches by an average of six points.

“Our season is kind of picking up, so hopefully this preliminary stuff will get us ready for regionals,” Rachel Koch said.

Renberger said he considered the Firebirds’ upcoming play a measuring stick.

“I think in the next week we’ll know a lot more. A lot will come up for us to focus on then,” the coach said. “So far we’ve done well. We still have some room for improvement but we still have some time to address our areas of need.”

Lately, tennis hasn’t dominated the Olathe South players’ minds. Senior Tara Peck died in an car accident after the first week of practice.

Free State's Andrea Koch returns serve during a doubles match. Free State beat Olathe South in a dual Monday at Free State.

Peck, slated to play in the one of the top two starting slots, had considered playing soccer at Kansas University.

Free State travels to Hiawatha today to finish a tournament that was postponed Sept. 13 due to inclement weather.