Lake Oconee Academy’s tennis teams are in the midst of another postseason run and will prepare for their Elite Eight matchups in the coming days.
The girls’ team earned a 3-0 victory over Hawkinsville in its Sweet 16 matchup, while the boys’ team also posted a 3-0 win against Wilcox County.
Both LOA teams will host as the higher seed in their upcoming matches, with the boys facing Johnson County. The girls’ team will compete with the winner of the Sweet 16 match between GMC Prep and Lanier County.
LOA tennis head coach Ron Kalpak said his players have improved as they continue to advance through the postseason. He mentioned that alongside their efforts, it is important for them to support each other on the court.
“All of the lines on the team— one, two, three singles and one, two doubles—are getting noticeably better every single match,” Kalpak said. “We’re practicing very specific shots and drills, and they are translating into matches just like we drew them up.”
Kalpak said the team’s motto emphasizes the need to support one another as teammates.
“[Our Motto is] basically the story of Moses and when he had to hold up that stick to fight his battle; I tell the players, sometimes you’re Moses, and you need your arms held up, and sometimes you’re the other guys that help, that hold Moses’ arms up,” Kalpak said. “Basically, sometimes you’re playing really well and can finish your match early, and you can go cheer on your other players, and sometimes you’re in a battle out there, and you need your other teammates to hold your arms up and cheer you on.”
According to Kalpak, the current season has been much different than the previous one, with many players graduating last season, therefore resulting in a lot of “rebuilding and restructuring. He says that some players have been “moved around” in their team positions this season, and did a good job embracing their new roles.
“As we get deeper into the playoffs, they get more serious every single practice, and that translates into their matches,” Kalpak said. “They’re really starting to focus on perfecting their shots in practice, and then they go out and do it in matches.”
As the Elite Eight matchups near, Kalpak hopes his players can continue collaborating positively, especially in doubles, where many of the athletes have not played together before.
“I really want to see our doubles teams continue to gel and get stronger as a team,” Kalpak said. “There’s a lot more strategy and teamwork involved in doubles, and they’ve been improving in that area.”
Overall, Kalpak said he finds this season very meaningful because many players have joined the roster and are making a big impact on the team. He also mentioned that the current lineup includes five seniors, who are now “playing each game as if it’s their last.”
“Some of these freshmen had very little experience coming in, but they’ve made huge contributions to our team; If it weren’t for them, our team would not be as strong,” Kalpak said. “I want these seniors to go as deep as they possibly can for their final year; they’re just a great group of kids, and I think they are the coolest group of kids you could ever be a coach for.”