Desai, Bane Help Tennessee High Slam Sullivan East

BRISTOL, Tenn. – Tennessee High junior Nidhi Desai smacked serves. She returned stinging shots from the baseline. And when she closed in, she made the most of her movement.

Desai defeated Sullivan East’s Raven Rice, 8-3, Thursday afternoon in a Big Nine Conference tennis matchup at the Bristol Country Club. Her victory was part of a Tennessee High attack that knocked off East, 8-1, in girls and boys action.

Desai’s strong outing was a reminder of why she made the decision to join the tennis team this year. And why her rapid ascendance is integral for a Tennessee High girls squad (6-1) attempting to make a return trip to the state tournament.

“I like being on this team,” said Desai, whose family moved to Bristol from Mumbai, India in 1996. “I’ve known every one since I was little, and it’s really great being part of this team.”

Vikings coach Jennie Gardner said Desai is a self-motivated player with a tremendous work ethic. According to Gardner, Desai declined an opportunity to play for Tennessee High last season, choosing instead to concentrate on school work – Desai holds a 4.0 grade-point average and is a member of several extracurricular clubs.

But heading into this year, Gardner knew the Vikings’ girls team was lacking senior leadership – Tennessee High only has one four-year player – and had major holes to fill after losing four key players.

So Gardner, a school counselor, made several efforts to reach out to Desai and pull her in. Desai finally caved, following several polite pushes from her soon-to-be coach and a reminder from her Vikings
teammates that her talents were severely needed.

Desai’s decision has been Tennessee High’s gain.

“Last year, I tried so hard to encourage her to play,” Gardner said. “This year, I had more of an opportunity to talk to her about how [tennis] could actually help her in her pursuit of a college education.”

Desai isn’t the only Tennessee High tennis player who has stepped up.

Vikings freshman Will Bane defeated East’s Jacob Newman, 8-0, Thursday. Bane has risen from an unknown first-year player into Tennessee High’s No. 6 singles entry.

Bane’s ascension is a result of what Gardner said was likely a season-ending anterior-cruciate ligament injury to Owen Rockett, formerly the Vikings’ No. 2 singles player.

Bane has made the most of his moment. He looked calm and at ease on the court Thursday. And he said he’s already adapted a mindset that he must be ready to play – and win – at all times.

“You’ve got to play with confidence,” Bane said.

Gardner said it was a coach’s dream to watch her young team continue the high level of play that has come to characterize Tennessee High tennis in recent years.

“To see somebody step up that maybe the year before didn’t get to play …  it’s very rewarding,” Gardner said.

While Tennessee High is seeking to build on its past success with a combination of youth and rising talent, Patriots coach Josh Deyton is simply attempting to raise the awareness of tennis at Sullivan East.

Deyton said football, basketball and volleyball rule the kingdom in Bluff City, Tenn. So he is trying to lift up the Patriots’ tennis program by turning to eager freshmen who are ready to take the court.

“We’re just trying to have fun and stay focused and hit the shots that [we] can,” Deyton said. “They’re playing against players who have been playing a lot longer and have a lot more training than them, so [it’s about] not being discouraged and having fun.”

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