ST. IGNATIUS — The Mission Lady Bulldogs tennis team may only be returning three varsity players from last season’s squad, but head coach Sara Ison plans on making a racket not just at divisionals this season, but state as well.

ST. IGNATIUS — The Mission Lady Bulldogs tennis team may only be returning three varsity players from last season’s squad, but head coach Sara Ison plans on making a racket not just at divisionals this season, but state as well.

The Lady Bulldogs are looking to build on a year that saw them improve from the season before and at practices so far, Mission has built on that progress.

“We are mostly a beginning group this year and they have all taken to it fairly quickly,” Ison said. “I have only been coaching three years but this is the fastest group I’ve had learning-wise. We really don’t have anyone that just is not getting it.”

Last year, the Lady Bulldogs finished in third place at divisionals, but Ison feels like this squad has the talent and determination to advance to state and do well.

“I have high goals for my girls because I really believe in them,” Ison said. “My goal is for our team to win divisionals and place as a team at state.”

A lot of Mission’s success will rely on the returning three: Sarah Bowers, Jane Makepeace and Cierra Dougherty. Bowers and Makepeace are coming off appearances at state where they didn’t quite place, but learned what it will take to do it.

“I think that falling short has left both of them hungry and eager to be their best this year,” Ison said. “I have very high hopes for the both of them and think they have a really good shot at placing at state this year as individuals.”

While only one senior graduated last season, Mission lost three others due to busy schedules and time commitments. The eight other girls who comprise this squad, despite being inexperienced, have really impressed Ison over the first couple weeks of practice, working hard and developing quickly.

“Our girls are very coachable and patient with themselves,” Ison said. “They are eager to learn and they are letting themselves make the mistakes and for the most part, all are sticking to the correct form.”

The one area Ison is looking to clean up with her players is their footwork, a crucial component to doing well.

“I would like to see our footwork come together so that we’re not scrambling to the ball and for everyone’s ground strokes to be solid,” Ison said.

If the Lady Bulldogs put it all together, they’re going to serve up a lot of trouble for the rest of Class B/C.