When you return the #2 and #4 tennis players from last year's state tournament plus a state-qualifying doubles team, you'd probably be pretty excited. When you realize they're being coached by one of the most successful high school tennis coaches in Missouri history, you'd probably be expecting big things.
     That's what's in store this year for the Chillicothe Lady Hornets Tennis Team, which returns their top five players and are being coached by Ed Douglas, who is in his second year as the Lady Hornets coach after heading up the boys program in Chillicothe for many years.
     The Lady Hornets long list of returning talent is headlined by #1 singles Syndi Whiteside who placed 5th two years ago and 2nd last year at the state individual tournament and #2 singles Ali Stephens, who placed 6th two years ago and 4th last year in the state individual tournament. Both have started varsity since they were freshmen. Also returning is Junior Kelly Westphal and Senior Chelsea Long, who teamed up to qualify for the state doubles tournament last season. They did not place, but Long has started varsity since she was a sophomore and Westphal begins her third year as a starter. The fifth returning varsity player is Jozie Reeter, who came out for tennis as a sophomore and has been on the varsity roster since day one.
     Douglas says this is a very special group of players that you don't see very often.
     "That's a tribute to their work ethic" explained Coach Douglas. "They've worked really, really hard. They've taken lessons, they've played tournaments and played a lot of years"
     He says in addition to their physical skills, it's their mental approach to the game that makes them so dominant on the court.
     "If you look at some of our top girls, they're as mentally tough as anyone I've ever seen and have a very strong competitive desire to win" stated Douglas.
     Last year, Whiteside and Stephens' toughest competition in the regular season was usually each other. Douglas says their appearance at the State tournament will help them this year.
     "When we got down to the State level, they played other top talent in the state. It was easier to see some little things for them to work on."
     Douglas said he saw a few little things that people could take advantage of that he couldn't see in the regular season due to their total dominance over their opponents.

     Despite having only one varsity spot open, the numbers out for tennis are very good with 19 girls out including a good group of Sophomores to provide depth. Douglas explained that's important with some regular season tournaments requiring eight varsity players instead of the normal six.

     One new face on the courts this year is Assistant Coach Amanda (Hardie) Marsh, a former CHS tennis player who also played at Northwest Missouri State. Marsh had a shot at being the boys head coach a few years ago but declined due to a pregnancy.
     While Chillicothe is the hands down favorite for a fourth straight Midland Empire Conference title, there are a couple of regular season non-conference teams that will be tough competition. Marshall returns almost everyone from  last year's team that edged Chillicothe 5-4, and new to the schedule is Kansas City Barstow, the defending state team champions.
     Douglas made it clear as to why he added the state champions to the schedule.
     "If you're going to be the best, you got to play the best."
     One wonders if Marshall and Barstow are thinking the exact same thing.