Kaitlyn Lloyd admits her tennis game has come a long way since the Poplar Bluff senior joined the team as a freshman.
"Let's just say my freshman year, the ball was nowhere to be found," Lloyd said. "Now, I can sorta hit it in the general area."
Lloyd credits her improvement to the techniques taught by coach Charles Harper and, "practicing all the time helps."
With the tennis program now in its new six-court home for a full season, practicing has gotten a lot easier.
"It's wonderful," Harper said.
The girls program started last fall at the old courts at what is now the Middle School, featuring just three nets. The Mules opened the new Senior High Courts last fall in the final match of the regular season, a 7-2 loss to Cape Central.
Poplar Bluff is scheduled to host the individual singles and doubles tournament in October featuring Cape Central, Farmington, Jackson, Mehlville and Oakville.
"It's a lot better," Lloyd said. "We can actually do one-on-ones, whereas at the three courts, it was like everyone was jumbled together. It was kind of like move off to the sidelines."
With more room, the addition of five more players to the roster over last season has not cut into the amount of reps each player gets as the team prepares to open the season Thursday at home against Sikeston.
Lloyd returns to the varsity lineup with junior Sara Holland, who led the team in wins during singles play. Annaleese Williams, a junior, also returns with some varsity experience but there will be three players starting for the first time.
One of them will be senior Shelbey Johnson.
The all-state soccer player came out for tennis for the first time this fall and won the No. 2 spot in the lineup for the first match.
"She's just a natural athlete," Harper said. "She's going to be a great addition.
"...One thing Shelbey brings to the table is a competitive spirit."
Poplar Bluff went 3-13 last season and last had a winning record in 2010.
Area teams will be competing for a new conference championship for the first time this fall with matches determining a regular-season champ and a singles and doubles tournament at the end of the season.
Poplar Bluff, Cape Central, Caruthersville, Charleston, Dexter, Jackson, Kennett, Notre Dame and Sikeston will make up the conference.
"They do have that added wrinkle," Harper said.
Mya White, a junior, will start the season at the No. 4 singles spot while sophomore Caitlyn Dollins moves up from the junior varsity team. Victoria Ward and fellow junior Kayla Zachary both played varsity matches last year and could work their way back into the lineup.
"I think there's going to be a lot of jostling," Harper said of the lineup.
The roster also features freshmen Samantha Carpenter, Clarissa Varner, Simone Anders, Isabella Sifford and Madison Williams along with juniors Kaitlyn Morey and Cyerra Light with sophomore Eva Bedell.
Harper said Monday the lineup for doubles play, which starts each match, was still to be determined.