Blue Devils need to be Reddy and able to take on challenges their inexperienced lineup faces

QUINCY — Quincy High School girls tennis coach Mike Terry knew he could pencil Amelia Willing and twins Lily and Phoebe Hayes in his lineup the last four seasons.

That comfort level is gone now that the trio has graduated.

“We have a lot of work to do,” Terry said. “We’re playing challenge matches to see what our lineup is going to be. Most players competing have never played varsity tennis. It will be a rebuilding year.”

The Blue Devils, however, do return junior Anika Reddy.

Coming off a successful freshman season, Reddy posted a 32-7 record last fall and won the Western Big 6 Conference singles championship as the No. 3 seed. She was named the league’s MVP by helping QHS to a second-place team finish after it won the title the year before.

Her presence and that of the Hayes twins and Willing, Reddy’s doubles partner, enabled the Blue Devils to go 10-4 in duals.

Reddy, who played No. 1 singles, beat some top-flight competitors along the way, including Moline’s Calla Graham and Columbia Rock Bridge’s Amali Noel Ramesh, who lost in the Missouri Class 3 state quarterfinals.

Reddy’s quest to reach the Illinois Class 2A state tourney ended with an upset loss in the quarterfinals of the Belleville West Sectional as the No. 3 seed. One more victory would have secured a state finals berth.

“I don’t know if the moment got to her or the other girl raised her game,” Terry said. “If you look at the records and seeds, Anika should have won. I expect her to make up for that loss and make it to state. I feel like she is going to have an even more successful season this year.”

Reddy’s power is what has set her apart from the competition.

“She’s very athletic and fit,” Terry said. “She hits the ball very hard and she’s consistent. She can open up the court with her strength and shots. She can dictate when she’s playing somebody. And she’s not afraid to come to the net and volley.”

Another junior, Mary Dodd, will likely be Reddy’s doubles partner and play No. 2 singles for QHS. Dodd was 22-15 last year while playing No. 4 singles.

Sophomore Arrianna Trinh played three varsity matches last season and senior Anshu Podaralla spent most of the season on the varsity. Three other juniors — Gwen Mast, Evie Ott and Clemence Scholl — and freshman Medha Pujar will be in the mix.

“Mast just started two years ago. Ott is the same way,” Terry said. “Pujar is a freshman but so far has been playing well and I think she will compete for the top six. Scholl has been close to the varsity for two years. I anticipate her being in that group.”

QHS opens the season Aug. 23 in the Ottawa Night Light Invitational alongside the host school, Morris and Timothy Christian.

“We need to get our singles ladder set and then put together doubles teams as we go,” Terry said. “There will be a lot of movement up and down the lineup. They’re hard workers and want to learn.

“I think we’ll be a lot better at the end of the season than at the beginning.”