The Manhattan High girls tennis team opened the season with the Junction City Quad on Thursday, facing Lawrence Free State, Junction City and Salina South. 

Junior Jillian Harkin, who competed in the No. 1 singles spot, was 2-0 on the day. Harkin swept the first two matches 8-0, but her third match was suspended after seven games due to inclement weather. 

Junior Maura Wiens played No. 2 singles. As the only MHS player to finish all three matches before the rain, Wiens earned a record of 3-0 (8-0, 8-1, 8-2). 

Seniors Hannah Loub and Ava Bahr, the No. 1 doubles team, left with a record of 2-0 (8-6, 8-1).  

“We weren’t playing very well [in the first match], playing timid and not playing to our full potential,” Bahr said. “Then we picked each other up and ended up playing really well together.” 

The No. 2 doubles team, consisting of juniors Jessica Zhang and Sophia Evangelidis, went 2-0 (8-2, 8-2). 

The cancellation of most of the third matches will be reflected as a “default” on the team’s record, but should not affect postseason seeding. 

According to head coach Tony Ingram, the season opener provided a great opportunity to compete after productive preseason preparation. 

“As far as hitting here in town with our team, we had pretty good numbers most of the mornings [in the preseason],” Ingram said. “It was good to get to this tournament for the Varsity girls because we’ve just been hitting with each other and competing against each other.”

Varsity returners include Harkin, Bahr, Loub and Wiens. 

Harkin said that a strength of this year’s team is its variety of playing styles. 

“We all have very different qualities, which are good qualities,” Harkin said. “Our doubles have really good baseline hitters and really good volleyers… and then Maura and I have completely different games.” 

Ingram says that the Varsity group is already aiming for post-season success.

“I think everyone’s pretty much on the same page in that League is a long term goal…and winning it for the fourth straight year,” Ingram said. 

The team will also look to defend last year’s third place finish at the 6A State competition. Individually, Harkin hopes to improve her second place finish at State. 

The Varsity squad will return to action in the Emporia Invitational on Sep. 11.