It’s a time of learning for Buckingham County High School’s varsity girls tennis team. The 2018 squad has an inexperienced core but is demonstrating to its coach the effort needed to grow and achieve success.

“We only have three girls that have ever played competitive tennis before,” Lady Knights new Head Coach Kyle Gravitt said. “… We’re just trying to work on the basics first, and then we’re trying to build on strategy and skill, so it’s been a learning experience — for me as well.”

Gravitt played four years of high school tennis in Halifax County, “but it’s my first year as a coach, so I’m learning as well, learning the opponents and that kind of thing.”

It is helpful to him that he does not have any question about his players’ dedication on the court. “They’re always giving me 100 percent effort,” he said. “They’re great girls to work with. It’s just we’re going to have some struggles there, I guess ‘growing pains,’ as they say.”

Buckingham presently holds an 0-3 record. The Lady Knights fell 8-1 both to host Prince Edward County High School on March 23 and visiting Nelson County High School on March 19. In the first match of the season March 15, “we lost a close match to William Campbell (High School), 5-4, which I was impressed with,” Gravitt said. “It’s just they’re just learning the strategy involved in the game. That’s something that takes time. It just takes playing.”

The team is composed of seven juniors, two seniors, one sophomore and one freshman.

“Our two seniors have never played before,” Gravitt said.

The team is enjoying contributions however from both its underclassmen and upperclassmen. In the No. 1 singles spot for Buckingham is junior Alyssa Gormus. “She’s been playing her entire time (at the) high school level,” Gravitt said. “I know she played in the top six last year. I’m not sure what her seed was.”

He noted that the program lost of a lot of players due to graduation in 2017, but Gormus has been a key force in helping provide guidance to the less seasoned players on the roster.

“She’s our experienced player, definitely our best player, and she’s a good leader,” the coach said. “She’s got a great attitude. She’s willing to help all of our new players and offer advice. You want to have a player like her on the team. She’s going to go up against some of the best that each team has, and it’s sometimes tough, because she plays well, but the scores may not indicate how well she played.”

In the No. 2 singles spot is another junior, Dien Dang.

“She had experience from last year as well,” Gravitt said, “same as Alyssa, great attitude. She’s a hard worker, does whatever you ask her to do. She won her first match against Prince Edward … so she’s definitely improving.”

At No. 3 singles is sophomore April Sage.

“I don’t think she had any experience in the top six last year, so it’s a new challenge for her playing in the top six, especially at No. 3, which is a big step up,” Gravitt said. He noted that she has a lot of ability but that she just needs to build up her confidence and trust in her game so “that she can actually go out there and do the things she can do.”

Junior Bailey Perkins has been in the No. 4 singles spot and brings some past on-court experience, though she did not play last year.

“She’s really working hard, trying to get back into that tennis mindset,” the coach said.

He added that junior RhaNeisha Holman brings remarkable athleticism to the No. 5 singles spot and is in the process of learning the strategy that goes along with the game.

The team’s No. 6 singles player is senior Kayla Sage.

“She’s very consistent as far as getting the serves in and the forehand and backhand. Now with her, it’s just taking it to a next level, getting more power in her game,” Gravitt said.

Buckingham visits Nelson County High School on Monday at 4:30 p.m.