Under a torrid summer sun the Emmaus girls tennis squad began practice for their 2022 campaign.

“The first week of practice is always about getting the lineup figured out,” Hornet head coach Robert Dragotta said. “We have one week to decide three singles positions and four doubles teams.”

The Hornets are coming off a fine 2021 regular season, earning a 17-1 record. Dragotta tells it like it is. When asked about the team’s 2022 prospects he said “we have solid players and should have a good season.”

A good season will require likely a quick start and Emmaus won’t have much time to get it all together.

‘We have four matches in the first week and four matches the following week,” Dragotta said. “The EPC (Eastern Pennsylvania Conference) is always tough. Parkland and Easton should have good teams returning. We will see who else plays well after the next two weeks.”

During that first practice week Dragotta held challenge matches. The best player earns the No. 1, the second best player takes No. 2 and the third best plays No. 3 singles. Doubles is about chemistry and harder for Dragotta to sometimes determine.

The Hornets will start a senior-laden singles lineup. Captain Shelby Carter will play first singles. Kate Smith will be second singles, while either Liza Duerholz or Anna Lyons will emerge to take third singles.

The top doubles team will be senior Maddy Everett and either Duerholz or Lyons. The rest of the doubles players will be Ashlyn Phy, Natalie Marks, Reshma Beraj, Alexa Makoul, Karishma Beraj, Sydney Gosselin, Ava Grace Saab, Keria Gilboy, Josie Jackson and Sophia Kaufman.