Anna Lis never considered playing tennis until her friends invited her to play a game for fun during her sophomore year. Weeks later she enrolled in private lessons to start her tennis career.
“I immediately asked to be put into lessons because I loved the competitive nature of it all,” Lis, a senior, said.
Months after beginning club and private lessons, Lis contracted an autoimmune disease, impacting her ability to perform in athletic activities for a while.
“During my time in the hospital, I saw tennis on TV constantly, and it piqued my interest further,” Lis said.
Seeing others succeeding helped Lis persevere, eventually making a recovery and returning to her training.
“There weren’t any doubts going back into it because I knew it was what I wanted to do,” Lis said.
Many athletes on area high school teams have trained since middle school, so Lis had a late start to her experience. After taking private lessons for the majority of her sophomore year, Lis decided to try a club tennis team. The following year, Lis tried out for the school team and made it.
Lis still takes private lessons and trains outside of practice, striving to get better and reach the level of athletes who started training earlier.
“There’s a massive gap, and even though I know it will be hard to close it, I’m working for it,” Lis said. “Proving my worth is always a struggle. It’s a very independent sport, so when you make a mistake, it’s all on you.”
Senior Emily Nowicki, a three-year member of the tennis team, has been playing with Lis for two years.
“Anna always tries her best and brings energy to the court,” Nowicki said.
Lis always keeps a positive nature to set a good example for her teammates, Nowicki said.
“She sprained her ankle during a match (but) continued to play on it during playoffs,” Nowicki said.
Junior Ava Faust is often one of Lis’s doubles partners. They have been playing together for two years, making their communication clear and efficient.
“Her serves have really improved,” Faust said. “Her rallies too – she’s great right at the net.”
Lis often helps to keep the team’s morale up on the court.
“She’s a really good teammate,” Faust said. “She never lets me give up on a match.”
The difference in playing styles and atmospheres made Lis’s transition from club to Baldwin’s team a challenge.
“I wanted to see if I would like it,” Lis said. “The girls were fun to be around and I loved the sisterhood that we have with one another. Everyone is always so fun and supportive. We all help each other.”
With the season having come to an end, Lis plans to continue to play club tennis at Slippery Rock University in the fall.
After touring the college, Lis believes the university to be the best option for her future, both for playing tennis and studying to become a physician assistant.
Reflecting on her tennis career so far, Lis is glad that she decided to give the sport a chance. Tennis has given her the opportunity to make new friends and learn how to navigate challenges independently.
There’s more to tennis than just the sport. It creates great friendships and keeps you in the right mindset, Lis said.
“Tennis has been a lot of fun over the years,” Lis said. “I’m really grateful for what it has taught me.”
