RHS girls fall short in state tournament

Juniors Lily Cate Pace and Lakin Derrick made it to the quarterfinals of the AHSAA state tournament for No. 1 doubles last weekend, and junior Maria Gonzalez and sophomore Nelly Juarez made it to the semifinals for No. 3 doubles.

Eight students competed for RHS. The team scored 12 points.

RHS girls tennis coach Charlotte Dollar noted the 2025 season has been a rebuilding year for the team following the loss of seven senior members last year.

“We didn’t advance as far as we have in the last few years, but that was to be expected because we were just trying to get going again,” said Dollar.

“They all stepped up and did a great job to get down here,” Dollar said. “We’re hoping this experience at state will give them all some initiative to look forward to next year and to work harder and try to get down here and be more prepared.”

Dollar said the experience of competing at state can be “a little overwhelming,” adding there’s no way to “understand or envision” what it’s like without going through the experience at least once.

“These younger girls got a big taste of it, and we’re hoping that will be what it takes to get them fired up to get them down here next year,” Dollar said. “It’s just really, really competitive down here, and so I think that’s going to make them realize how much more they’ve got to work to get to where they can compete.”

Dollar said she and the rest of the coaching staff are “really proud” of all the team members.

“They did a good job,” Dollar said. “They stepped up their game at section to get us to state, and every girl played so hard and represented Russellville so well. I can’t wait to see what they do next year.”

Dollar extended her thanks to the rest of the tennis coaching staff LeAnn Horton Strickland, Lee-Taylor Bishop and Kevin Strickland.

“Without them, we would not have made it to state,” Dollar said. “They are amazing coaches and give of themselves daily to make sure our kids are good players and good people.”