Global tennis player rating system Universal Tennis Rating (UTR) recently ranked the Knoxville Catholic High School girls tennis program as the No. 1 girls high school team in the United States.
When it comes to high school tennis, the No. 1 spot in the nation usually belongs to a full-scale tennis academy in Florida or California, but not this year. After winning its second state title in a row, the Knoxville Catholic girls tennis team got back to work with individual off-season tournament play, resulting in a combined UTR score that puts them at No. 1 in the nation.
As the spring season approaches, the team is looking to three-peat a state championship and achieve individual awards. Senior Maeve Thornton, a Furman signee, is also now ranked the No. 13 player in the nation. The team is coached by Rusty Morris and Karen Lorino. From left above are Eleni Liakonis, Gigi Sompayrac, Maeve Thornton, and Lillie Murphy.
