photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Free State's No. 1 singles player Eli Ward shuffles her feet in a tennis quad at Sports Pavilion Lawrence against Lawrence, Olathe South and Shawnee Mission South on Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2025, in Lawrence.

Free State and Lawrence competed in their first home quad of the girls tennis season against Shawnee Mission South and Olathe South at Sports Pavilion Lawrence on Tuesday, with the Firebirds going 11-1 and the Lions going 0-12.

The Firebirds and Lions faced each other for the first round, and the Firebirds won all four matches. Eli Ward defeated Lucy Miller-Coleman 8-0 at No. 1 singles, and Cami Lee beat Emma Over 8-0 in the other singles match. The duo of Taryn Jones and Annie Pilakowski beat Lawrence’s Kate Neilson and Ellorie Severin 8-1 in the top doubles match, while Laura Turner and Violet Nelson beat Makayla Denton and Lily Baldridge 8-2 in No. 2 doubles.

Free State returns a lot of talent and experience, although some in new situations. Pilakowski went to state in the singles bracket but is now paired up with Jones, who was a part of Free State’s No. 1 doubles team last year.

“Our doubles are pairing with new partners, so they’re settling in and doing a great job,” Free State coach Randy Clark said. “We’ve got two great singles players who I think can compete with anyone in the state, so I’m excited to see what they have.”

Ward, a freshman, quickly rose to one of the team’s top singles spots. Next to her is Lee, a senior who went to the state tournament last year with a 27-9 record and a fifth-place finish at the Sunflower League meet and regional meet.

Overall, the Firebirds bring veteran experience, which helps keep the team’s demeanor steady. The team has a lot of tennis experience and can rely on that no matter the situation.

“They’re not necessarily nervous about competing,” Clark said. “They understand it’s a meet, we compete and we go on to the next. It’s so businesslike. It’s nice — it alleviates some of that uncertainty or pressure on some of the players that haven’t competed at the varsity level.”

For Lawrence, the team is both young and new to varsity. Four of the Lions are sophomores, with only one junior and one senior, Severin, on the team.

To add to the theme of newness, Tuesday’s quad was the first time Denton and Baldridge had played together. Lawrence coach Stephen Hudson said they have good chemistry, and that, most importantly, they’re having fun playing together.

“They’re a great group of girls, they have fun together and we’re learning how tough varsity competition can be,” Hudson said. “I like that we’re all coachable and that we’re kind of scrappy.”

Growth potential for Lawrence is high, which is an exciting aspect of the team for Hudson, who is in his first year as the head coach. The Lions have good chemistry playing with each other, which is important for a young team that is going through the learning curve of competing in the Sunflower League. Hudson hopes to see his team continue to improve incrementally each day and to learn from each match.

“They have to learn how to handle close matches and pressure situations,” Hudson said. “I’m looking forward to establishing good practice habits and the culture of working hard this year, and hopefully that will pay off in the next two-to-three years. When these sophomores turn into seniors is when it’ll really pay off.”

Lawrence faced Olathe South in the second round and lost 8-0 in three of the four matches, with Over losing 8-2 in the No. 2 doubles match. For Free State, the Firebirds beat Shawnee Mission South 8-0 in both singles and No. 1 doubles, while the No. 2 doubles team of Turner and Nelson won 8-7 (7-4) over the Raiders’ second doubles team.

In the final round, the Lions played their best and closest matches. Miller-Coleman lost to Shawnee Mission South’s Sammy Cooper 8-7 (7-2), and Over lost 8-3 to Caroline LaTessa. Neilson and Severin lost 8-5 in the No. 1 doubles spot, and Denton and Baldridge lost 8-2 in the No. 2 doubles match.

Free State won three of the final four matches against Olathe South. Ward and Lee each won 8-0 in their singles matches, while the No. 1 doubles team of Jones and Pilakowski won 8-3. The Falcons won the No. 2 doubles match 8-0 over the Firebirds.

For all schools, the meet provided opportunities to compare themselves to others in the Sunflower League, which makes up the majority of their region. With the end goal being a state berth from the regional tournament, competing against and learning from matches against Sunflower League opponents is beneficial early.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Lawrence’s Kate Neilson on the Lions’ No. 1 doubles team hits the ball in a home tennis quad against Free State, Olathe South and Shawnee Mission South at Sports Pavilion Lawrence on Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2025, in Lawrence.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Free State No. 2 singles player Cami Lee hits a ball in a tennis quad against Lawrence, Olathe South and Shawnee Mission South at Sports Pavilion Lawrence on Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2025, in Lawrence.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Free State No. 1 singles player Eli Ward hits a ball in a tennis quad against Lawrence, Olathe South and Shawnee Mission South on Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2025, in Lawrence.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Lawrence’s Makayla Denton reaches up to hit the tennis ball in a home tennis quad against Free State, Olathe South and Shawnee Mission South at Sports Pavilion Lawrence on Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2025, in Lawrence.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Lawrence No. 2 singles player Emma Over starts her swing in a tennis quad against Free State, Olathe South and Shawnee Mission South at Sports Pavilion Lawrence on Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2025, in Lawrence.