The Russellville varsity tennis teams have a history of success on the court, and this season is off to an outstanding start for both the girls and boys. RHS competes in AHSAA Class 4A-5A Section 8 along with Brooks, Central, Deshler, Haleyville, Priceville, Rogers, West Point and Wilson. The girls and boys will travel to Muscle Shoals April 1, host Wilson April 2, travel to Decatur April 4 and host Florence April 9. RHS will host the section tournament April 15-16 and the 4A-5A state tournament will be held at the Mobile Tennis Center April 22-23

GIRLS

The 2024 season has already progressed through the halfway point and the Russellville girls, led by head coach Charlotte Dollar, have defeated all Class 4A-5A Section 8 opponents as a team the first round through the schedule except for a close loss to Brooks High School.

Russellville has been playing most of the year without No. 1 singles player Peyton Parrish. The senior UNA signee has been out with an injury and will hopefully return to the court soon. “She is very upset about missing so much of her senior season,” Dollar said about Parrish not being able to play. “Lakin Derrick has subbed for her at singles and doubles and has done an amazing job,” Dollar added.

Parrish’s usual No. 1 doubles partner, Sofia Tiffin, has gone undefeated so far in No. 2 singles during section play, as has No. 6 singles court player Sarah Kate Kiel. Seniors on this year’s team include Parrish, Tiffin, Kiel, Kinsley Palmer, Kaitlin Speck and Addie Strickland.

BOYS

The RHS varsity boys, led by head coach Ben Phillips, have also been playing well to start the 2024 season.

The team led by seniors Reece Carson, Malachi Duncan and Bralynn Vincent is experienced with only one player graduating off last year’s squad that finished fourth at the state tournament. “The entire team is solid from top to bottom, but my three seniors are driving this team,” Phillips explained. “We have really challenged both teams with a difficult schedule and tournaments early this season and it just gets tougher from here on.”

The head coach also explained the boys’ team shares the same goal each year, and that is to win the section. After that, the group discusses other goals they would like to achieve.