Lawrence High seniors Anna and Yelena Birt played some of their best tennis of the year last week at regionals, as they walked away with the doubles championship.

It was good timing, as it sets them up for the 6A state tournament, which starts at 11:30 a.m. today at the Kossover Center in Topeka.

The Birt twins, doubles partners who qualified for their first state tournament, haven’t really set expectations for themselves besides giving it their all.

“We’re really excited, plus we’re seniors, so it’s a great experience to end our tennis season at state,” Anna Birt said after regionals.

Free State will also send two doubles pairings to state, senior Caitlin Dodd and freshman Ali Dodd, and senior Taylor Hawkins and junior Rachel Walters. All of them besides Ali Dodd qualified for state last year, but didn’t advance past the first day.

“We talked with the girls, with three (returning) state qualifiers, qualifying for state isn’t our goal,” FSHS coach Oather Strawderman said. “Qualifying well and having us be in a position to play on the second day at state, that’s our goal this year. Not to just qualify because we’ve been there and done that.”

The Firebirds are thrilled with their return trip and agree with their coach about what they need to do, but it has an extra special meaning for the Dodd sisters who get to play together at state for the first time.

“I’m really excited,” Caitlin Dodd said. “It’s awesome that we did so well and that I get to go back to state and this year my sister gets to go with me, so I’m really excited about it.”