Doubles Partners Since Birth
Most high school doubles tennis partners can’t say they’ve been a tandem for more than half their lives.
Fewer even can they’ve been a “doubles team” since birth.
Rachel and Emily Pierson, twin sophomores at Red Oak have torn through opposing doubles tennis teams the past two years with equal parts teamwork, talent and technique en route to their second straight state tennis doubles bid this year.
“They’re very dedicated and they’re very coachable,” said long-time Red Oak tennis coach Dan Martinez. “They’re unique because sometimes sisters playing together doesn’t work. But in their case, it does.”
The two have been playing together since they were 8-years-old when dad, Jeff, first introduced his two youngest daughters to the game. They took to the game almost immediately and with the help of professional coach and former Creighton player, Rick Faust, the girls blossomed.
“We get along pretty good so that helps,” said Emily.
The girls play year round now, mostly in United State Tennis Association events and local junior tournaments when not dominating Hawkeye 10 courts. Last year Rachel and Emily placed third at state. This year they each won individual titles at the Hawkeye 10 meet at Atlantic.
Rachel’s game is more power, Emily more finesse. Emily has a strong ground stroke game and Rachel is better at the net and a stronger server.
“They compliment each other with their strengths,” said Martinez. “In Emily’s case it’s her forehand and for Rachel its her serve. That’s another reason they’re such good doubles partners, they work well together.”
Rachel and Emily also share a bond on and off the court that helps in perhaps the most underrated aspect of good doubles play: communication.
“We can talk a little more,” Rachel said. “We can push each other and get a little more angry at each other which makes us work harder.”
The Piersons are a family of tennis players. So much so that the Iowa Tennis Association tabbed the family as the Iowa Tennis Family of the Year in 2008.
Martinez said those good genes has helped but its taken more that DNA to get the twins to the level they are now.
“They put in a lot of work to get to that level,” he said. “They’ve gone above and beyond, playing a lot of tournaments and a lot of hours to get there.”
Martinez first saw the sisters play in a tournament as eighth graders. He heard of the twins but needless to say he was impressed seeing them on the court the first time.
“I saw them and I figured: I might as well keep coaching a few more years,” he said. “They make a coach look good.”
Rachel and Emily’s older sister, Amy, was a state tennis runner-up for Martinez and later played at the University of Nebraska-Omaha.
“I knew a lot about them, taking lessons and playing tournaments, and doing the things they had to do to get better,” Martinez said of Rachel and Emily. “They were the first to tell me they were going to be better than their sister (Amy).”
So what does the coach think?
“They’re right there but she’s (Amy) pretty strong. I don’t think I want to get into that fight,” the diplomatic coach said.
The Iowa State Tennis Tournament begins Thursday at Johnston High School. The Pierson twins are seeded second this year in Class 1A and open first round play against Lindsey Nissen and Jaylin Dearing of Comanche. Martinez likes Rachel and Emily’s chances.
“The draw is excellent,” he said. “You couldn’t have asked for a better draw. I think their chances are excellent to get to the finals and we’ll see what happens there.”
One thing is certain, freshman butterflies won’t be an issue this time around.
“We had some nerves,” Rachel said of her and her sisters loss in last year’s state semifinals. “We didn’t play our A-game that’s for sure. We’re not planning on that happening again this year.”