The Ankeny girls’ tennis team hasn’t skipped a beat under new head coach Katie Owens.
Owens previously coached the program from 2014-20 before taking some time off to raise her family.
“I’m really enjoying being back in the coaching role,” said Owens. “It’s been refreshing to work with this group–they’ve shown a lot of enthusiasm and hard work, and they’ve been very open to learning and adjusting to new systems. It’s always encouraging when a team is willing to grow together and trust the process.”
Owens will have to replace a large senior class that included Kira Smith, who won the Class 2A singles title to become the city of Ankeny’s first-ever state tennis champion. Lilith Francel, Satviki Gorrela, Susan Hanley and Sophie Schmitz were among the others who also graduated.
Smith cruised through her senior season, winning every match without dropping a single set. At the state tournament, she never lost more than three games in any set.
Now, Smith is playing for Iowa State. She was coached at Ankeny by her father Steve, who resigned from his position and has been replaced by Owens.
Owens didn’t have much time to prepare for her return with the move of girls’ tennis to a fall sport. There are 38 girls on the squad.
“The practices have been going really well so far,” Owens said. “The team is showing great energy and improvement each day. The team is working hard and staying focused on our goals.”
Ankeny posted a 5-9 record last spring, but the Hawkettes reached the final of a Class 2A regional team tournament before dropping a 5-3 decision at Pleasant Valley.
KJ Quirk stepped in as an alternate and played No. 3 doubles in that match after Hanley became dizzy and was unable to continue. After losing the first set, they started clicking and went up 4-1 in the second set.
However, Pleasant Valley rallied to win the match, sealing the Spartans’ triumph.
Quirk is back along with fellow senior Rucsandra Vlad. Junior Olivia North and sophomore Ella Dietrich are the team’s other top returning players.
North posted a 4-6 record in singles, including a 3-1 mark at the No. 3 position. Quirk went 3-1 at the No. 6 spot.
Vlad and Dietrich both saw some doubles action.
“Our returning players are showing a lot of growth–not just in their skills, but in their confidence and eagerness for success,” Owens said. “They’ve come back more focused and ready to take on bigger roles, and that’s exactly what you hope to see as a coach.
“A good number of the girls spent time on the courts over the summer. You can definitely tell who put in the extra work–their confidence and consistency are already showing. It’s been great to see that commitment carry over into practice,” she added.
Ankeny will open its season on Tuesday with a CIML Conference match at Valley. The Hawkettes will then face crosstown rival Ankeny Centennial on Thursday.
“We have set both personal and team goals,” Owens said. “We want to compete hard every match, but just as important is how we grow together, support each other, and stay mentally tough throughout the season. Success isn’t just about the scoreboard–it’s about building something lasting.”