Dan Vales returns as head coach of Republic girls tennis this season after several years away from the program, inheriting a team with unprecedented depth. With approximately 50 players, Vales faces the largest group he has ever coached.
“The biggest strength for us is depth,” Vales said. “We have a lot of kids that are going to be in the mix for lineup spots, competing with each other and building each other up.”
The Lady Tigers graduated several seniors, but Vales sees genuine competition throughout the roster. “This is probably the most wide open lineup I’ve had coming into season,” he said. “We have about 12 kids that realistically have a chance to compete for those top six spots in the singles lineup or possibly get in a doubles spot.”
Leading the way is Mati Carpenter, expected to compete for the number one singles position. Carpenter comes from a tennis family with deep ties to the Republic program. “We’ve had several Carpenters come through and they’ve all been good tennis players,” Vales said. “One of her big strengths is she’s super dependable with her strokes and puts a lot of balls in play.”
Senior Payton Schroeder is expected to provide leadership, while sophomore Paelyn Kaufmann showed significant improvement during summer training. “Both of them looked like they’re making big strides,” Vales said.
Sienna Blankenship, who narrowly missed varsity spots last season, has impressed in early practices. Vales noted her athletic ability from playing multiple sports, including her trip to state track and field competition in the pole vault. Other players in contention include Claire Norris, Abbi Bremer, Aubree Tinsley, Marlee Vasquez, Izzy Basta, and Aubrie McCord.
The competitive atmosphere has been bolstered by strong summer participation, with 30 to 40 players regularly attending off-season training. Team-building activities included trips to play on clay courts in Nixa.
Assistant coach Jason Romero returns from last season, providing continuity with returning players. “He has a connection with all the returning players and helps me fill some of the gaps,” Vales said.
With the depth and competition level, Vales has set ambitious goals. “I feel like we have a realistic opportunity to compete for conference,” he said. “That’s one of the goals we talked about during the summer.”
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