VHHS Tennis Serving All Season Long

Rebels playing against Thompson

There’s always a lot going on at VHHS this time of year: classes, performances, team competitions, ceremonies, and lots and lots more. Of course, a big part of VHHS is sports, and I’m here to talk about one of these teams: tennis!

The boys and girls’ tennis teams kicked off their season at the start of February at the Frostbite tournament. It’s been an amazing season so far; you’ve probably caught them dominating on the school’s tennis courts on home game days. On those six courts, they’ve played against Thompson, Oak Mountain, Mountain Brook, and more.

Wynn Strubel and Peyton Standifer playing against Mountain Brook

Like other teams, they’ve gone away to play too. From places as close as Hoover, to courts in Mississippi, Tennessee, and Florida, our players have been everywhere in the region for matches.

Alex Nelson and Dev Patel playing against Madison Central in Mississippi

Tennis is usually an individual sport, right? So then, how does the team work? Well, when we play against another school, there are normally 3 doubles matches and 6 singles matches, which is why the team’s overall score is out of 9. Players can play doubles, singles, or both, depending on what their coach decides. We also play a lot of exhibition matches, which don’t count towards the team score but are great practice opportunities. When we’re not competing, we’re still practicing with each other, either on the high school courts or at the country club.

Just last year, the Vestavia tennis teams started organizing JV matches against other schools. For example, this year, the boys' and girls’ teams each have 16 players, and the lower 8 seeds are usually competing in JV matches. This has given the underclassmen more opportunities to compete and practice. However, Coach Aaron and Coach Fisk strongly emphasize that this division is very flexible, and in the end, everyone is a part of one big Vestavia team.

Rebels at the Future Rebel Match (Pizitz vs. Liberty Park)

Furthermore, our performances have been extraordinary. For the past three years, the boys have won the state tournament, and the girls won last year and in 2022. Our girls are also ranked 10th in the nation this year!

However, these teams aren’t special just for their stats. As a member, I can tell you that the Vestavia Hills tennis teams are strong because of the community they’ve built. In a doubles match, you can be sure to see our pairings supporting each other, even if the score isn’t in their favor. Off the court, we cheer like there’s no tomorrow. We laugh, shout, and win together. Everyone on the team loves competing, traveling, and just enjoying time with their teammates.

Madison Standifer and Kitty Watts playing against Auburn

This year from April 14th to 15th, our players will compete at Sectionals in Hoover. Their tournament seedings were determined by sectional matches played throughout the season. Then, the State tournament in Mobile is the week after from April 24th to 25th. Wish our players the best of luck, and be on the lookout for a strong finish! Go Rebels!