They say there’s a first time for everything, and the varsity girls tennis team is no exception to that cliché. After defeating Jackson 6-0 and Ladue 5-1 in Sectionals, the squad has earned its first ever State tournament birth.

The team will be taking their top six seeded players to compete. This includes seniors Chelsea Weise, Julia Vranas, sophomores Haleigh Chobanian, Arianna Demos and Kayla Neskar, and also freshman Abby Carpenter.

“I think that we should win based on the teams there,” Weise said, “I think we have the potential to win.”

Aside from team play, sophomore standout Haleigh Chobanian has also qualified for individual State. Chobanian had also qualified during her freshman year, however an ankle injury prevented her from competing.

“I am extremely proud of these girls. They have worked so hard and this is a well-deserved honor for them. To get to state we had to beat some very good teams, including Ladue, who won state two years ago and finished second last year. We beat them convincingly. The team is focused and ready for the next step,” Head Coach Donna Stauffer said.

  Play will begin on Thursday, Oct. 20 in Springfield as they team takes on Rock Bidge in the first round.