They see each other every day.

Every morning they eat breakfast together, every night they do homework together, and almost every afternoon during tennis season they meet on the court ready to face their opponents. Senior Julie and sophomore Emily Alderson are not only sisters; they are also number one doubles partners on the varsity tennis team.

“I wanted to play with her,” Julie said. “Over summer I thought ‘I want her to be my partner’ so [when we were paired together] I was happy.”

Coach Sally Polley takes a variety of things into consideration when pairing doubles partners. She looks not only at the individual skills of each player, but also at their ability to work together. In her eight years coaching tennis at FHN she can only recall one instance where there were sisters on a doubles team together. That was two years ago on JV.

“For doubles I pair the two best,” Polley said. “Their height worked and I figured they were sisters so I’ll try it and it just worked.”

The two girls, who their coach affectionately calls the towers because of their height, have been playing tennis together for five years. During the summer they practice three to four times a week, in order to prepare for the upcoming season.

“We are really supportive of each other,” Emily said. “We help each other out. We know each other’s strengths and weaknesses and if I know [Julie] can’t hit a certain shot then I know to help her out.”

Supportive is right. Last year, as a freshman, Emily beat out her older sister for a spot on varsity. For some siblings this may have caused tension, but not for the Alderson sisters. They didn’t let it bother them.

“I was proud of her,” Julie said. “I was a little mad at first but then I was proud.”

The girls say that playing together has worked out well for them this season. Unlike some siblings, the two get along very well.

“We usually get along,” Emily said. “Once and a while we bicker but not much.”

If there is an instance where the two start fighting, they don’t let it affect their game.

“We don’t ever fight on the court,” Julie said. “If we have a problem we leave it behind and play the game.”

The girls ended their regular season undefeated, and went on to place first in GAC’s.
Only Emily hopes to continue playing tennis in college, but both girls plan on playing together in the future.

The rest of the team also ended their season undefeated. They came out of GAC’s with six first place finishes and one second, the best record Polley has ever seen. The team ended up winning GAC’s overall.

Last year Kristen Roberts and Teri McElheny played doubles in state. The team hopes to qualify again this year.

“After GAC’s that’s our goal to go to state,” Polley said. “I can’t see anyone beating any of them right now.”