Coming into the fall, the Hun School girls’ tennis team faced a major obstacle before it even played a match.

The school’s tennis courts are being ripped up to make way for a new school building and a reconfiguration of the tennis facility on campus. As a result, the team is practicing and playing across town at the Community Park tennis courts.

Hun head coach Joan Nuse acknowledged that the arrangement has required some flexibility.

“It is a challenge to go off campus everyday,” said Nuse, whose team opens regular season play with a match at Stuart Country Day on September 21.

“We take a bus over to the Community Park. At least it is close and the courts are fine.”

As Nuse assesses her squad, she believes she has some fine singles players in junior Steph Taylor, sophomore Caroline Wilkinson, and freshman Paige Braithwaite.

While Nuse hasn’t sorted out who will be in each of the three singles slots in the lineup, she is confident each player can excel.

“We are working on it; they are really close in tennis ability,” said Nuse.

“They are all strong players. Caroline is a real surprise; I didn’t know she was going to play. Paige was on the middle school team so I knew her from that. Steph keeps improving. She got contact lenses and is actually seeing the ball. She is an all-around player.”

The doubles lineup features a veteran in junior Olivia Hartman together with three newcomers, sophomore Olivia Kotler, sophomore Rachel Heller, and freshman Tali Prozementer.

“We are young, it is nice to have a team like that,” said Nuse. “We have some solid talent. They have nice singles games and we are trying to incorporate their singles skills into doubles.”

With the Mercer County Tournament starting on September 23 at Mercer County Park, Hun is looking for a solid effort at the competition.

“We are just going to go in and see how people do,” said Nuse. “We hope we can win some matches and get some experience.”

Nuse is confident that her young squad can get some wins to go with the experience as the fall unfolds. “I think we can continue to grow and improve as we get to the end of the season on November 9,” said Nuse.

In Nuse’s view, the players have shown a desire to get better as a group.

“They have a good attitude; it is nice that they all get along,” said Nuse.

“Steph is a leader and is going to be a captain. She gives good leadership and helps keep them on the right path. They have actually asked to do more conditioning. They want to be in better condition so they can perform at their best.”