As the No.1 Girls’ Doubles team for the Central Hardin tennis team, both Sarah Rineker and Ashlee O’Brien come from slightly different backgrounds (Rineker plays volleyball as her dad Bill is one of the most knowledgeable in the area as the school’s volleyball coach and O’Brien has a very famous uncle in that Bo O’Brien is associated with tennis in this area), but somehow met up to become one of the more potent duo’s in the Region. Despite losing to Elizabethtown’s Lexy Hazle and Lauren Riney in the Conference Tournament, they both still look to finish strong in the upcoming region tournament.
How long have you been playing tennis?
Sarah Rineker – I’ve been playing since freshman year. Always doubles. Taylor Mudd was my first partner.
Ashlee O’Brien – I’ve been playing fulltime since sixth-grade. I actually played singles last year and ended up playing doubles during region and decided to stick with it. I usually play doubles with my sister, who graduated two years ago. I like playing doubles more so than singles.
Sarah you play volleyball too. What is it about tennis that interested you?
SR – My freshman year, when Crady was the volleyball coach he was also the tennis coach and he needed girls for tennis and he asked me to come play and my dad said “Sure” so I went to practice and that’s how it started. First I just played because Crady wanted me to, but I actually got interested in it so it just stuck.
What is it that intrigues you about tennis?
AO- The thing about is that it’s so competitive, but it’s a friendly game too. It is based on the honor system, because you call your own lines and you also hope you play someone who is also nice. Sometimes you might get someone who isn’t always honest and you can try to make them feel bad, but if it keeps going on then you ask for a line judge.
Some go from doubles to singles and vice versa and some don’t always handle the transition well.
SR – Well, we are both very competitive and supportive.
AO- We are competitive and at the same time if she makes a mistake then it’s funny because before we go out there we are not going to apologize to each other all day and then when we get out there one of us makes a mistake then we’ll say “ Oh I’m so sorry.” The other one backs us up saying “You’re fine.” We are a good team because we will support each other.
SR – We can’t get mad at each other.
What’s the highest you’ve ever finished?
AO- Well in region I played with Ashley Thomas and we lost in the quarterfinals. The match to go to state.
SR – Well, only ones and two’s go to the region tournament so we didn’t do well in the other matches, but hopefully we will do good this year since this is our first year together.
Are you more of a net player or do you prefer the back?
AO- We are probably more of a front player because we both like being up at the net.
SR – To me it’s more like volleyball, so I like playing up close and it’s like being a front row player. So you can spike it and be aggressive. Especially if you get a high ball and you get set to smash.
Did you have a role model or enjoy watching someone on television?
AO – I do but it’s not anyone famous. It’s my sister and my grandpa, who got me playing tennis. Bo O’Brien.
SR – Not really, because I’m usually so focused on volleyball, but this is the first time I don’t have both going on at the same time, because I’m not playing club.
Who’s the toughest opponent you’ve ever faced in tennis?
SR – This year we had a really really tough match with Lauren Riney and Lexy Hazle from Elizabethtown which we lost, but it was a pretty tough match.
Do you have any plans to play after high school?
AO – I recently got into GSP so I’m looking into going to Lindsey Wilson and I could probably play there in college.
